COMMENTARY

Baseball: Former Arkansas ace enjoys mentoring younger players

Judging by threes, no teammates have done more at Arkansas than Sidney Moncrief, Ron Brewer, and Marvin Delph, in-state stars who catapulted Razorback basketball to national prominence in the 1970s.

There've been other threesomes of significance at Arkansas, including the power pitching trio that consisted of players from St. Louis, Mo., Kilgore, Texas, and Kirkland, Wash. In 2007, Arkansas finished 43-21 and won the SEC West championship with a staff headed by Nick Schmidt, Jess Todd, and Duke Welker.

Schmidt was the No. 1 starter at Arkansas and the SEC Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore in 2006. He was 28-8 in three years and is still the career strikeout leader with 345 at Arkansas.

Over 9,000 fans packed Baum Stadium in March 2007 for a marquee matchup between Schmidt and Vanderbilt ace David Price. The two had become friends while playing for Team USA and both were 5-0 heading into what was expected to be a pitcher's dual of the highest level in SEC play.

Instead, Arkansas won 8-7 in 10 innings on a sacrifice fly by Logan Forsythe.

"It was 5-5 in the third inning," said Schmidt, who now lives in Rogers with his wife and two young sons. "That was really a memorable moment for me in getting to pitch against David in front of all those fans at Baum Stadium. The game didn't turn out like everyone expected, but 2007 was really a great year for me and our entire team at Arkansas."

Price was the No. 1 pick by Tampa Bay later that year and he won the Cy Young award with the Rays in 2012 before being trade to Detroit. Arkansas' big three were also high draft picks in 2007 with Schmidt going in the first round (23rd overall) to the San Diego Padres. Welker (68 overall) and Todd (82 overall) were each selected in the second round with Welker going to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Todd to the St. Louis Cardinals. Todd made a brief appearance in 2010 with the Cardinals before being traded and Welker pitched in two games with the Pirates in 2013 before being released.

Todd, from the piney woods of Kilgore, is still grinding it out at Triple A Pawtucket (Boston Red Sox), where he is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five appearances. Welker and Schmidt each had their careers derailed by arm problems. Schmidt had Tommy John ligament replacement surgery and missed a whole season in 2008 and Welker had the surgery shortly before being released last year.

Schmidt returned from his injury and had some productive seasons in the high minors before being released by the Cincinnati Reds two years ago. His best season came in 2012, when he was a combined 12-6 at Triple A Colorado Springs and Double-A Tulsa in the Colorado Rockies' organization.

Some athletes are bitter or resentful when their careers are cut short but not Schmidt.

"I was absolutely blessed with how long I was able to play," said Schmidt, who grew up in the St. Louis area. "By no means have I ever felt any differently. I'm so thankful for the people I've met and the places I've seen. Baseball's been very good to me."

Schmidt, 29, is still connected with baseball as the pitching coach at Providence Academy in Rogers, where his sons attend school. He also helps develop young players with Perfect Timing Baseball and Softball Academy in Springdale and Fayetteville and he works as a superintendent with C.R. Crawford Construction Company in Fayetteville.

Schmidt said he's considered pursuing coaching beyond the high school level but, for now, he enjoys mentoring the younger players.

"There's aspects to baseball that are so much bigger than the game," Schmidt said. "I love to build things, so it's important at this level to work from the ground up. It starts with character and leadership development in addition to teaching the kids the fundamentals of the game."

Being back in Northwest Arkansas allows Schmidt to follow his favorite college team, the Razorbacks, more closely. He watches as many games his busy schedule allows and he stays in frequent contact with Dave Jorn, who is still the pitching coach at Arkansas.

"I've been a Razorback fan since the day I came here and I will be for the rest of my life," Schmidt said. "Even now, it's so cool to turn on the TV and see (former) Arkansas guys like Dallas Keuchel, James McCann, and Forsythe playing in the big leagues. I'm so happy for them."

Sports on 05/17/2015

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