Padres sign top pick Nick Schmidt

[HollywoodLeo]

The Official Site of The San Diego Padres: Official Info: Press Release

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres announced today that the club has agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Nick Schmidt, the team's first-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Vice President of Scouting & Player Development Grady Fuson and Director of Scouting Bill Gayton made the announcement.

Schmidt, the 23rd overall pick in the draft out of the University of Arkansas, was named a second-team All-American by Louisville Slugger, Baseball America, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) in 2007 after going 11-3 with a 2.69 ERA (37 ER/124.0 IP) in 18 starts for the Razorbacks. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior limited opponents to a Southeastern Conference-best .196 average and also ranked among conference leaders in ERA (2nd), wins (T-2nd), starts (T-1st), innings pitched (3rd) and strikeouts (111, 6th).

Recommended by Padres scout Lane Decker, Schmidt left Arkansas as the all-time strikeout leader with 345 strikeouts, and also ranks among the school's all-time leaders in wins (3rd, 28), innings pitched (3rd, 340.1 IP), starts (2nd, 52) and ERA (8th, 2.83). He is just the fifth Arkansas player to be named a two-time All-America selection after garnering first- and second-team recognition as a sophomore in 2006. Schmidt was also a Freshman All-American in 2005. SEC coaches also named the left-hander a first-team All-SEC pitcher in 2007 and he was honored as a first-team pitcher on the SEBaseball.com All-SEC squad. Additionally, Schmidt was one of 10 pitchers chosen as a semifinalist for the Roger Clemens Award and was one of 50 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award.

A native of St. Louis, MO, Schmidt played for the USA National Team during the summer of 2006, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.31 ERA in 34.1 innings of work. He was also the winning pitcher in the Gold Medal game of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Championship against Chinese Taipei in Havana, Cuba. Schmidt attended Vianney (MO) High School where he helped lead the team to two district titles and a state championship, garnering all-state honors his senior year. He also received one letter in wrestling.

The Padres have now signed or agreed to terms with 32 players selected in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

[padrefanforever]

Nice......I have a good feeling about this kid