The Colorado Rockies used their first-round pick at 21st overall to select right-hander Jason Schmidt, a prospect with plenty of upside but one that will require some patience. He’s got the tools to be a legit big-league starter, but he’s not there yet—AAA will be his home for the next couple of years as he refines his game.
Schmidt’s most polished skill right now? His movement—it’s already well above average. But the rest of his game needs work:
- Stuff: Needs improvement
- Control: Still developing
- Best pitch: Changeup (Could reach 16 potential)
If that changeup maxes out, he’ll have a dangerous weapon that could keep hitters off balance at the next level. His fastball is solid, but not overpowering, meaning his success will depend on his ability to develop that off-speed arsenal and command his pitches effectively.
One thing that makes Schmidt intriguing is his 7 stamina rating. That’s not quite high enough for a traditional workhorse starter, but it’s not low enough to peg him as a short-inning reliever either.
Schmidt could be used in a variety of ways:
- Middle reliever – Coming in for a couple of innings to bridge the gap.
- Long reliever – A valuable arm to eat up innings when a starter exits early.
- Spot starter – If injuries hit or the team needs to shuffle the rotation, he could step in.
While he’s not the guy you expect to throw 7+ innings every fifth day, he should be a key piece of the Rockies’ pitching staff once he develops.
There’s no need to rush him. Schmidt should remain in AAA, giving him time to refine his control and maximize his changeup potential. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be a steady mid-rotation starter for Colorado. If not, he could still carve out a role as a valuable multi-inning reliever.
The Rockies took a developmental arm, but one with real potential. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting to see if Schmidt becomes a rotation staple or settles into a bullpen role down the line.