A bold move in baseball's scouting world: Bill Schmidt, former Rockies General Manager, is joining the Athletics as a special assistant. This decision, reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post, marks a new chapter for Schmidt after his tenure with the Rockies. But what does this mean for the future? Let's dive in.
Schmidt's journey in baseball spans over 25 years, starting in scouting for various clubs in the 1990s. He later joined the Colorado Rockies around the turn of the century. He steadily climbed the ranks, becoming the Vice President of Scouting by 2007. Schmidt's expertise led him to oversee the team's amateur drafts for two decades, eventually stepping in as interim General Manager when Jeff Bridich was dismissed in May '21. He officially took on the role at the end of that year.
During his four seasons leading baseball operations, the Rockies struggled, finishing at the bottom of the NL West each year. His first full season saw a 68-94 record, followed by the first three 100-loss seasons in franchise history. The team's performance hit a low point last year with a 43-119 showing, one of the worst seasons ever. Over the last four years, they had a dismal 35.6% win percentage.
Despite the challenging results during his time as GM, Schmidt brings a wealth of scouting knowledge to the Athletics. The Rockies haven't seen much success from their farm system or recent drafts. While Hunter Goodman, a catcher, was a notable find in the fourth round in 2021, the team has had several misses at the top of the draft since selecting Kyle Freeland eighth overall in 2014.
Their subsequent first-round picks, including Brendan Rodgers, Mike Nikorak, Riley Pint, Ryan Rolison, Michael Toglia, Zac Veen, and Benny Montgomery, haven't panned out as hoped. The jury is still out on the 2022-25 draftees, Gabriel Hughes, Chase Dollander, Charlie Condon, and Ethan Holliday. It's safe to say that all four of those players have trended down since draft day, though it’s too early to write them off entirely.
However, it's worth noting that the Rockies had a stronger draft record earlier in Schmidt's scouting tenure. Troy Tulowitzki, Charlie Blackmon, and Nolan Arenado, all drafted between 2005-09, became franchise-altering players. The team also found Ryan McMahon in the second round a few years later. Their first-round picks from 2011-14 (Tyler Anderson, David Dahl, Jon Gray, and Freeland) have also seen some success in the big leagues.
This move raises an interesting question: Can Schmidt's experience revitalize the Athletics' scouting efforts? Considering his mixed track record with the Rockies, will he be able to replicate his earlier successes? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
