A bold move in baseball's scouting world: Bill Schmidt, former Rockies GM, is now a special assistant for the Athletics. This hiring, reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post, marks a significant shift. Schmidt, who parted ways with the Rockies after a challenging tenure, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. But the question is: can he turn things around?
Schmidt's journey with the Rockies spanned over 25 years. He climbed the ranks from scouting roles in the '90s to becoming the Vice President of Scouting by 2007. He even served as interim General Manager after Jeff Bridich's dismissal in May 2021. The Rockies then removed the interim tag at the end of the year.
During Schmidt's four-year leadership of baseball operations, the Rockies consistently struggled, finishing at the bottom of the NL West each season. His first full season saw a 68-94 record, followed by the first three 100-loss seasons in franchise history. Last year's 43-119 showing was one of the worst in baseball history, resulting in an MLB-low 35.6% win percentage over the last four years.
But here's where it gets controversial... Despite the lack of on-field success, Schmidt's scouting expertise is undeniable. The Rockies haven't seen much return from their farm system and recent drafts. While catcher Hunter Goodman was a bright spot in the fourth round of 2021, the team has had a string of misses at the top of the draft since selecting Kyle Freeland eighth overall in 2014.
Subsequent first-round picks such as Brendan Rodgers, Mike Nikorak, Riley Pint, Ryan Rolison, Michael Toglia, Zac Veen, and Benny Montgomery, all failed to meet expectations. The jury is still out on 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 wasn't always this way. The Rockies had a stronger draft record earlier in Schmidt’s tenure. They drafted franchise-altering players like Troy Tulowitzki, Charlie Blackmon, and Nolan Arenado between 2005-09. They found the latter two in the second round in 2008 and '09, respectively. Ryan McMahon was another notable second-round pick. Their run of first-round draftees from 2011-14 (Tyler Anderson, David Dahl, Jon Gray, and Freeland) each found some measure of big-league success.
This begs the question: Can Schmidt's experience revitalize the Athletics' scouting department? His track record is mixed, to say the least. It will be interesting to see if he can replicate his earlier success with the Rockies. What are your thoughts? Do you think his scouting experience outweighs his recent GM struggles? Share your opinions in the comments below!
