Matt Chapman (abdomen) begins swinging on Friday

Schmitt is set to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, so this move was an inevitability to free up a spot on the Giants’ 40-man roster. The expectation is that Schmitt will be fully recovered and ready to go in time for spring training.

Chapman said he originally tore muscle off the bone in two places back in April and played through it for months before going on the IL at the beginning of July. He hit .235/.324/.368 in 84 games before being shut down.

This was merely a procedural move at this stage, as it had already been announced that Chapman will undergo season-ending abdominal surgery on Tuesday. Turner Hill had his contract selected from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday to take his place on the club’s 40-man roster.

As expected, Chapman’s season is officially over. The 33-year-old has been out due to a lingering abdominal issue since early July and wound up requiring surgery to address the issue. He’s expected to be a full-go for the start of spring training.

So that explains why Chapman continued to feel lingering soreness and wasn’t progressing as expected in his recovery from an abdominal strain. He should be fully recovered and ready to go for the start of spring training in 2027.

Chapman will visit a specialist for additional evaluation to determine whether he’ll require surgery. The 33-year-old veteran third baseman has been on the shelf with an abdominal strain since early July and simply hasn’t progressed as they expected. There should be a definitive update on his status at some point later this week.

Chapman and the Giants are trying to find answers as to why he’s still experiencing soreness whenever he does any sort of running. The 33-year-old infielder had been trending toward a return but is now once again out indefinitely.

Chapman was supposed to miss the minimum 10 days after going on the injured list a month ago, but he obviously hasn’t progressed as hoped. Christian Koss will continue to fill in at third for now.

Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters the procedure will “more than likely” end Schmitt’s season. It’s hardly an unexpected development after the 27-year-old breakout slugger was diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his left knee earlier this week. It would be extremely surprising if he makes it back in any capacity, which means that fantasy managers can safely drop Schmitt in nearly all formats. He finishes an unexpected breakthrough campaign with a strong 271/.301/.483 slash line with a career-high 21 homers, 55 RBI and nine steals in 409 plate appearances.

No word yet regarding how much time Schmitt will miss, but he’s facing an extended absence. There’s a strong possibility that his season is over. It’s an unfortunate development for the Giants, and fantasy managers, as Schmitt’s breakout campaign comes to a screeching halt. He hits the shelf after batting .271/.301/.483 with a career-high 21 homers, 55 RBI and nine steals in 409 plate appearances, delivering top-10 caliber fantasy production at both second and third base this season. The 27-year-old suffered the injury while pulling up awkwardly after rounding first base during Monday’s game at Oracle Park. There should be a definitive return timeline at some point, but fantasy managers shouldn’t anticipate him returning with just over eight weeks left in the season.