Steve Schmoll

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #28 prospect in 2006
  The Dodgers' bullpen was in flux in 2005, and Schmoll was one of the beneficiaries. He pitched just three innings in major league spring training, but broke camp with Los Angeles and spent most of the season there. Schmoll signed before the 2003 draft as a fifth-year senior free-agent for $75,000 after ranking fourth in NCAA Division I with 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings. He features one plus pitch, a low-90s cutter with rising life. He pitches from a sidearm slot that isn't quite submarine but provides good deception. Major league hitters weren't fooled often enough, batting .275 against him. Schmoll's slider and changeup are average offerings, and he needs to improve at least one of them to complement his fastball. He frequently pitched behind in the count with the Dodgers and must sharpen his overall command. Schmoll will have a chance to secure a spot in the big league bullpen in 2006, but he doesn't have closer stuff and profiles as a middle reliever.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #22 prospect in 2005
  Veteran area scout Clair Rierson raved about Schmoll during the 2003 college season, as he tied for the Atlantic Coast Conference lead with 124 strikeouts in just 88 innings. As a fifth-year senior, Schmoll was eligible to sign before the draft, and the Dodgers outbid several teams with a $75,000 bonus. Schmoll was in Double-A by August last season and was impressive in 19 innings in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 1.42 ERA. Schmoll has always been a sidewinder, but former Dodgers minor league pitching instructor Mark Brewer dropped his arm slot to near submarine level and Schmoll flashed 93 mph velocity at times in the AFL. He sits regularly around 87-90 with nasty running movement. His slot isn't quite as low but is comparable to Kent Tekulve's and Dan Quisenberry's, creating outstanding late movement, while his cutter actually rises. Schmoll's slider will never have great break from that angle, so he needs to craft an effective offspeed offering either with a variant of his fastball or his changeup, which has potential. He attacks the zone and pitches ahead in the count. He profiles as a set-up man or long reliever, but could provide relief help as early as midseason. He'll likely open the season in Double-A.