The Cleveland Guardians snagged LSU baseball signee Logan Schmidt with the No. 45 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, July 11. This isn't just another draft pick, this kid's a game-changer.
Cleveland Bets Big on Schmidt's Arm
Schmidt, a big 6-foot-4, 210-pound lefthanded pitcher from Ganesha, California, saw his velocity jump from 94 to 97 mph this past summer. That kind of improvement makes pro scouts salivate, and it clearly paid off. He went from a strong high school senior prospect to a highly desirable pro. MLB.com projected his slot value at No. 45 to be a sweet $1.60 million. That's a serious chunk of change, making it pretty clear he's signing that professional contract instead of heading to Baton Rouge.Jay Johnson Knew What Was Coming
Schmidt was rated the 45th best MLB Draft prospect overall and was a top 10 recruit in the 2026 class for LSU, the highest recruit Jay Johnson and his staff signed this cycle. He's also the first high school signee for Johnson's Tigers in this year's draft. Johnson himself had anticipated losing around six to eight of his class's 24 signees, and Schmidt was definitely on that list of guys expected to sign pro deals. It stings for LSU to lose a talent like that, but you can't blame a kid for taking $1.60 million and a shot at the big leagues. So, what's next? Schmidt's decision. Will he ink that deal with Cleveland and start his journey to the show, or try to pitch for LSU? The money and the high pick scream pro ball. Get ready to watch this southpaw climb the ranks, folks.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.