Whenever a team selects a high school player in the MLB Draft, there is always the risk that he will opt to play in college rather than sign a contract. The Cleveland Guardians are learning that lesson the hard way.
High school pitcher Logan Schmidt, who was Cleveland’s second-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, at No. 59 overall, has decided to put off his pro career. Having already committed to play collegiately at LSU, the Guardians were unable to convince him to pursue the minor league route right away.
The 18-year-old took to social media to announce that big career decision, calling it difficult and expressing his appreciation for the Guardians’ franchise.
“After a great deal of thought and conversations with my agent Garrett Parcell, others at the Paragon group, my family, and those I trust most, I have made the difficult decision not to sign with the Cleveland Guardians. I have a great deal of respect for that organization and for everyone I met throughout this process. We were not able to come to an agreement, but I appreciate the time they invested in getting to know me and my family,” Schmidt posted on Instagram.
Schmidt, who attended Ganesha High School in California, actually reclassified to finish early, which made him eligible for the draft. However, it also allowed him to begin college early, and after failing to come to a financial agreement with Cleveland, that is now what he will do.
A 6-foot-4, 210-pound left-hander, Schmidt already has the necessary physical tools despite having just turned 18 last month. His fastball has been clocked at 98 mph.
That is what made him such an intriguing prospect, and he likely would have been ranked much higher than No. 45 overall by MLB.com entering the draft if not for his prior college commitment. The Guardians felt he was worth the gamble at No. 59, but now they will have to wait at least two years for another chance to draft him, if they so desire.
The Guardians were much more fortunate with Texas high school pitcher Savion Sims, who was drafted in the seventh round at No. 213. Already committed to the University of Oklahoma, Sims signed a $1 million contract with Cleveland, which was well over the slot value for his draft position.
The Guardians have also signed their first-round pick, University of Florida pitcher Liam Peterson, so the loss of Schmidt may not hurt as much over the long run.
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