The Cleveland Guardians won’t be getting second-round pick Logan Schmidt into the organization after all.
Schmidt, the left-handed pitcher taken No. 59 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, announced Sunday that he plans to play college baseball next spring. That turns what looked like a clean draft selection into a rough ending for Cleveland.
The slot value attached to that pick was $1.59 million, but the exact gap between what the Guardians put on the table and what Schmidt wanted isn’t known. What is clear is the broader picture: Cleveland appears to have spent more than expected from its bonus pool on players who already signed, and that left the club short of what Schmidt was looking for.
Schmidt is committed to LSU, and if he follows through on that commitment, he won’t be back in MLB Draft eligibility until 2029.
There is another path, though. If he goes to a junior college, he’d be eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft. Baseball America reported Sunday that Golden West College in Huntington Beach could be the destination if he chooses that route.
Schmidt, who is from Pomona Ganesha High School in California, had originally been part of the high school class of 2027 before reclassifying to reach the draft and college a year earlier.
With this decision, he gives back the year he had gained.
For Cleveland, it’s a tough outcome. For Schmidt, the next move will determine whether he’s headed to LSU or setting himself up for a quicker return to the draft.
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