Scouting grades 20–80
60Fastball
60Slider
55Curveball
30Changeup
45Command
Schmidt was the highest ranked recruit to make it to campus out of a stacked 2024 prep class, with some publications ranking him as a first-round prospect at the time of the draft. While his time at Baton Rouge has been full of ups and downs, there's no denying the arm talent here.
Schmidt will touch 98 with some carry when he's hot, living in the mid-90s on most nights. It's a taller release height with some downward plane. Schmidt has a lightning quick arm and moves well down the mound despite producing just average extension. The curveball has been a highly regarded pitch dating back to high school, a filthy breaker with depth and spin rates north of 2,700 rpms. It's a potential plus pitch. Schmidt has also added a tighter bullet slider to the arsenal in the mid-80s. He tends to cheat his arm angle and vary his release height in-order to create some of his shapes, something that will likely need to be further addressed at the next level. Schmidt is yet to flash a true changeup or splitter, something most will want to see take steps forward in his draft-eligible season. It's also fringy command.
