The Wait Is Over: First Rounder Joins Fort Wayne Staff

Published on July 18, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

Fort Wayne, IN - Nick Schmidt, the San Diego Padres first round selection in this year's Major League/Minor League Baseball draft, will join the Fort Wayne Wizards pitching staff today, team officials with the Padres announced today.

Schmidt was the 23rd overall selection out the University of Arkansas, being named a second-team All-American during his junior year this season. He was 11-3 with a 2.69 earned run average, allowing 37 earned runs in 124 innings of work.

The left-handed Schmidt posted a Southeastern Conference-best .196 batting average against and was second in the conference with both his ERA and wins. His 111 strikeouts on the season were sixth-best in the conference and second on the Razorbacks pitching staff.

Schmidt is the University of Arkansas all-time leader in strikeouts with 345, third in the school ranking with 28 collegiate wins and eighth with a 2.83 ERA.

The St. Louis, Missouri native played for the USA National Team in 2006, going 3-1 with a 1.31 ERA in 34 1/3 innings of work. He was the winning pitcher in the Gold Medal game of the International University Sports Federation World Championship against Chinese Taipei.

Schmidt will become the third-most recent number one pick by the Padres to don a Wizards uniform, joining Matt Antonelli in 2006 and Matt Bush in 2004 as other top San Diego choices to spend time in Fort Wayne.

Left-hander Matt Handley was sent to the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League to make room for the addition of Schmidt. Handley appeared in 15 games out of the bullpen for the Wizards, going 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA. In 18 2/3 innings of work, he allowed 12 hits, 16 walks and struck out 14.

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