SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants third baseman Matt Chapman will “more likely than not” require season-ending surgery to repair the core muscle injury that has sidelined him since late June, manager Tony Vitello said Friday.
Chapman is expected to fly to Philadelphia on Sunday to see Dr. William Meyers, who specializes in core muscle injuries, for a full evaluation, but the expectation is that the 33-year-old veteran will need surgical intervention to address a hernia that has hampered him throughout the year.
“He’s going to go see an expert in that field and be sure about what needs to be done,” Vitello said. "Surgery's probably more likely than not [going to happen]. But I think [it’s] getting squared away with that doctor and [being] 100% about what’s the best path. If that is the path, it would be the end of his season on the field.
“But Willy [Adames] and [Rafael Devers], he’s had things to say to these young guys. I think he’ll have his rehab stuff to do, but his presence around could help the environment that’s currently existing right now.”
The Giants had been hoping that Chapman would be ready to come off the injured list during their series in San Diego last week, but he continued to experience discomfort when he tried running at game speed, which prompted the club to pump the brakes on his rehab process. He underwent a second MRI earlier this week that confirmed a lingering core muscle injury.
Chapman, who is under contract through 2030, batted .235 with a career-low .692 OPS and seven home runs over 84 games before landing on the IL on July 1.
Fellow infielder Casey Schmitt initially stepped in to replace Chapman at third base, but he ended up tearing the meniscus in his left knee in late July. He also underwent surgery last month and is likely to miss the rest of the '26 campaign.
Schmitt was back in the Giants’ clubhouse Friday and said he had just been cleared to walk without crutches. He was given a rehab timeline of six to eight weeks, which should allow him to have a relatively normal offseason and get ready to slide back into the Giants’ infield picture in '27.
“I think that’s probably the main thing to take out of this whole thing,” said Schmitt, who hit .271 with a .784 OPS and a career-high 21 homers over 98 games this year. “I’m happy to be able to do that and have a full offseason of getting my body ready for the next season, as well. Not having to be cautious about the workload that I’m putting on my knee or anything like that. I can just go out and get ready for the year in the most normal way possible.”
Christian Koss has been getting most of the starts at third base now that Chapman and Schmitt are both on the shelf, but the Giants could have another option entering the mix soon.
Infielder Marcelo Mayer, who was acquired from the Red Sox in exchange for left-hander Erik Miller and outfield prospect Carlos Gutierrez at the Trade Deadline, is working his way back from a bone stress reaction in his left forearm, but he’s been cleared to participate in full baseball activity and could begin a rehab assignment next week.