Image via Rochester Red Wings
For 33 years, my wife was a first-grade teacher. Every year, she would read Leo the Late Bloomer to parents at orientation. In the story, Leo the lion lags behind the other cubs—he doesn’t eat as neatly, and his development is slower. But in time, Leo catches up and blooms. In many ways, Nick Schnell’s career has followed a similar path.
Drafted by Tampa Bay as a first-round pick in 2018 (32nd overall), Schnell’s early years in professional baseball were marred by injuries. Wrist and knee issues plagued his first two seasons, and then the pandemic wiped out his third. Setbacks like these hindered his development compared to many of his 2018 draft peers.
A 2021 Baseball America scouting report stated: “Nick Schnell leapt into the first round in 2018 with an excellent senior year of high school where he showed plenty of home-run power. This has yet to translate to pro ball. Schnell is moving slower than his peers from the 2018 first round.” That assessment was accurate—between 2018 and 2022, Schnell hit just 17 home runs in the minors, never totaling more than 16 in any season. But in 2023, something changed: he hit 16 home runs at AA. This season, he’s already totaled 18 homers—two in Harrisburg and another 16 in Rochester—with over a month remaining. He’s not only finding his home-run swing but also hitting for average, currently batting .296, compared to his career minor league average of .236 entering the year.
By the end of 2024, Tampa Bay had largely moved on, and Schnell elected free agency. On December 23, he signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.
Optioned to Rochester on May 23, Schnell made an immediate impact. After his first week, I nicknamed him “Mr. Walk-Off.” On Friday, May 30, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, he lined a double down the right field line to score the tying and winning runs—his first walk-off hit of the season. Remarkably, the very next night, with the game tied 6–6 in the bottom of the ninth, Schnell led off with a home run over the right field fence, driving the ball 464 feet. I’ve never seen a player deliver walk-off hits in consecutive games before.
Schnell’s journey this year began in AA Harrisburg, where he hit .289 with a .319 OBP and .769 OPS over two months. He was promoted to Rochester just after Rob Hassell and Daylen Lile received their own call-ups. His impact with the Red Wings was immediate and impressive, quickly catching the attention of fans and management alike. Schnell is currently batting .296 with a strong .368 OBP and a .980 OPS, second on the team in home runs despite only joining Rochester in late May. Yes, he strikes out at a 32% rate, which is high, especially given the 23-point gap between his walk and strikeout rates. He struggles with low-and-inside sliders and changeups, but his on-base skills—paired with his power—are promising signs of further growth. On the bases, he’s 12-for-13 in stolen base attempts.
Defensively, Schnell has played primarily in right field, making excellent reads, showing off his range, and displaying a strong, accurate arm. He’s also appeared in left and center. Over 90 games this season between AA and AAA, Schnell has yet to commit an error and has three outfield assists in Rochester—two throwing out runners advancing home and another cutting down a runner at second from the right field fence.
Drafted in 2018 and still just 25, Schnell’s trajectory may have started slowly, but 2024 has been his breakout season—evidence of his perseverance and work ethic. Like Leo the late-blooming lion, Nick Schnell is now showing everyone just who he is and how firmly he’s focused on making his major league dreams a reality.