Why did LSU signee William Schmidt withdraw from the 2024 MLB Draft? D1 insider weighs in on shocking newsÂ
William Schmidt was ranked 16th in the top prospects for the 2024 MLB Draft. That made him one of the best high school pitching prospects and would have made him a guaranteed first-round pick in the draft.
However, Schmidt made a shocking decision to honor his commitment to the LSU Tigers instead of making the move to the major leagues. In September 2023, Schmidt, who hails from Baton Rouge, decided to revoke his commitment to the Mississippi State Bulldogs and signed his letter of intent with the Tigers soon after.
Schmidt confirmed his commitment to the LSU Tigers on social media amid the frenzy around the MLB Draft. With the Catholic High School set to play in his hometown for a few more years, his decision left baseball fans questioning his decision.
D1 insider Hunt Palmer gave his take on the situation, believing Schmidt's decision came down to negotiations and leverage that are unknown to the public.
Should the MLB Draft have played out according to prospects' rankings, Schmidt would have been the 16th overall pick. According to reports, the 16th overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft comes with a slot value of $4.7 million, with the 20th overall pick slightly lesser at $4 million.
Giving up such large sums of money to play NCAA Baseball is rare in the modern game. From Palmer's initial comments, it would seem that the Tigers made a strong pitch that MLB teams couldn't top.
William Schmidt relieves Jay Johnson's pitching problems with his decision
William Schmidt produced stellar seasons on the mound for Catholic High. In 2023, he went an astonishing 9-0 while recording 102 strikeouts with a startling 0.44 ERA. He won the 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year Award and helped the Bears win the state championship.
This year, he was ranked the fifth overall prospect by Perfect Game and the top right-handed pitcher in the country. Armed with a fastball that reaches a top speed of 99mph and a curveball which generates over 3,000RPM of spin, Schmidt looks set to become one of the most lethal pitchers for the Tigers in 2025.
Jay Johnson would be relieved to see him fulfill his commitment to the Tigers, and in the future, he could become a higher pick in the MLB Draft than what projections cast him this year.