William Schmidt

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #15 prospect in 2027 draft
  School: LSU
  Age At Draft: 21.8
  Schmidt ranked No. 22 overall on the final 2024 BA 500 and was the highest-ranked prep player on the list to make it to campus. Unsurprisingly, he logged meaningful innings while splitting time between the bullpen and rotation. Across 32.1 innings, he notched 41 strikeouts and posted a 4.73 ERA. Schmidt features a projectable frame and throws from a long, deep arm stroke. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and has been up to 98 mph, though his moneymaker is a low-80s curveball with plenty of depth and sharp 12-to-6 shape. He consistently spins it in the 2,900 rpm range, and it was widely considered the best of its kind in the 2024 draft. Schmidt’s changeup is a clear third pitch at present, though it flashed at times this spring. Next season, the rising sophomore should earn a spot in the defending national champion’s weekend rotation.
• Ranked #22 prospect in 2024 draft
  School: Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, La. Commit/Drafted: LSU
  Age At Draft: 18.8
  BA Grade: 55/Extreme
  Tools: Fastball: 60. Slider: -. Curveball: 70. Changeup: 45. Control: 50.
  
  Few pitchers in the 2024 class can spin the baseball like Schmidt. A lanky, 6-foot-4, 180-pound righthander, Schmidt has a projectable pitcher’s frame with long limbs and plenty of room to add more strength. He works from the first base side of the rubber, has plenty of length in a deep arm stroke and throws from a three-quarters slot with a bit of effort and some recoil in his finish. Schmidt has slowly added more velocity over the last year and a half or so, and during the 2024 spring season he ran the pitch up to 98 mph while consistently pitching in the mid 90s. While Schmidt’s fastball progression is encouraging, the foundation of his upside is built on his devastating high-spin curveball—which many scouts believe is the best curve in the draft class. It’s a low-80s hammer with huge depth and 12-to-6 shape with spin rates that are consistently in the 2,900 rpm range or higher. Schmidt has done a nice job landing his curve, despite its large movement profile, in the zone and using it as both an in-zone swing-and-miss offering and a chase pitch below the zone. He has thrown a low-to-mid-80s changeup, but it’s a distinct third offering now that will need more development to become a significant piece of his arsenal. Schmidt’s control is fair and imprecise, and he will need to continue refining his delivery as he progresses. Schmidt is committed to LSU but has first-round talent and could be the first prep pitcher selected.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2024

• 2024 High School Top 100 Draft Prospects
  School: Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, La. Committed: LSU
  Age At Draft: 18.8
  Few pitchers in the country have the ability to spin the ball like Schmidt. At 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, Schmidt has a starter look and projectable pitcher’s build with long limbs and significant room to pack on weight. That projection has already started to come through. After topping out around 91 a few years ago, Schmidt now sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. What sets him apart from his peers is a 77-79 mph hammer curveball with 12-to-6 shape and fantastic life. The pitch has huge spin rates in the 2,700-3,000 rpm range and it has depth, sharp biting action and more control than you would expect of a prep curveball with that sort of movement. It’s viewed as one of the best overall breaking balls in the class. Schmidt’s fastball/curveball combo is his bread and butter, but he has shown some feel for an upper-70s changeup. He has day one draft upside but is committed to LSU.