Ryan Waldschmidt is ranked thirty fifth on our newly-released 2026 Prime 100 Prospects listing, and his right-handed stroke is an enormous purpose why. Together with assigning him a 50 FV, our prospect group wrote that the 23-year-old outfielder within the Arizona Diamondbacks system “does nearly every little thing you need on the plate and he seems the a part of a bat-first future common within the field.” Drafted thirty first total in 2024 out of the College of Kentucky, Waldschmidt is coming off of a 2025 season wherein he put up a .289/.419/.473 slash line with 18 dwelling runs and a 142 wRC+ between Excessive-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo.
The way in which he goes about his craft differs considerably from his contemporaries. Waldschmidt’s setup is unorthodox, and his swing isn’t precisely what you’d draw up within the lab. In terms of mechanics, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sarasota native isn’t a poster baby for the science of hitting, however moderately an advocate of the artwork of hitting. Becoming a paint-by-numbers mildew isn’t his aim, squaring up baseballs is — and that’s exactly what he does. As evidenced by his observe file and presence within the prime half of our Prime 100, Waldschmidt’s method works simply advantageous.
Waldschmidt mentioned his atypical hitting profile earlier this month.
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David Laurila: Your hitting mechanics have been described as “low upkeep.” What does that imply to you, and the way lengthy have your mechanics been in place?
Ryan Waldschmidt: “All through my entire complete life, I’ve had a reasonably comparable variation of what I do now. I imply, there was a time after I was youthful that I had a bit little bit of a pick-it-up, put-it-back-down stride. As soon as I obtained to varsity… my freshman 12 months, I even had a stride at Charleston Southern. Then as soon as I obtained to Kentucky [as a sophomore] is after I type of tapped into the no-stride from my setup.
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“To me, low upkeep means easy. In a sport that’s very arduous, and really arduous to be constant at, there are lots of issues that need to go proper. In my mind, for that to click on, it signifies that I needs to be so simple as potential and restrict the transferring components. I wish to restrict every little thing that occurs previous to the swing — simply do a few issues that I do know I can management, that I might be near excellent with, to get me able to constantly put up good swings and simply swing at pitches that I’m on the lookout for. In a sport that’s very difficult, making issues so simple as potential is essential.”
Laurila: I’ve learn that you’ve got a steep bat path, leading to your swing being out and in of the zone shortly. Do you’re feeling that’s correct?
Waldschmidt: “For me, it’s about realizing how your physique strikes. I imply, everybody strikes in a different way. I believe that whenever you see an unorthodox setup into a special sort of swing, lots of people immediately assume, ‘That is unsuitable,’ or ‘That may’t be proper.’ When I’ve good timing, I really feel like my bat path is nice.
“Numerous occasions, somebody might be late on a swing and also you’re like, ‘Oh, that was a nasty swing,’ or ‘His bat path is off; he has a steep swing.’ However it may truthfully simply be one pitch that you just have been swinging at. Your timing was off, so that you needed to do one thing out of the abnormal to attempt to hit the ball. So I believe it’s very scenario-based. There are occasions when everyone seems to be a bit bit steep, when everybody has a bit little bit of a downward path. There are additionally occasions when everybody has an ideal swing.
“For me, it’s about being as constant as potential. I agree that I’ve extra of an upward path, however that’s simply how my physique strikes. For me to attempt to change my physique composition, change how my physique strikes… I don’t assume that’s the fitting reply. I believe the fitting reply is determining what you’re good at. You design a plan for each time you step within the field, for each pitcher you’re going through, that goes to your strengths. You play off of that. It’s not about attempting to cookie-cutter your swing to seem like all people else’s, to just remember to’re getting an ideal bat path, that you’ve got a stride and a weight switch. There are individuals who assume there’s a sure technique to hit — all good hitters need to hit this fashion — and I’m simply not a agency believer in that.”
Laurila: Would “out and in of the zone shortly” not be a priority? Hitters and hitting coaches usually preach maintaining bat within the zone so long as potential.
Waldschmidt: “I believe a part of it goes to how I arrange, and the way I swing. I don’t have a lot of a weight switch, and I don’t essentially transfer in the direction of the pitcher and have my bat turning immediately, attempting to maintain it all through so long as potential. However I believe that time period, being out and in, might be misunderstood at occasions.
“I’m swinging to be on time. I really feel like I’ve nice bat-to-ball. I really feel like I’ve nice pitch recognition and know the place the pitch goes. So for me, it’s type of a correlation between being out and in of the zone, and simply being on time and hitting the ball. Lots of people practice to have this lengthy… I wouldn’t say lengthy, however moderately a flat path by means of the zone.
“I like to apply hitting on time. While you’re on time, there’s not rather more to it than moving into the zone the place the ball goes and making high quality contact. I agree that there are individuals who have higher bat paths — I’m not saying that mine is ideal — however that simply goes into the kind of hitter you might be.”
Laurila: A December 2024 report stated that you’ve got big-time bat velocity. This previous December, I noticed one that stated you “don’t have loopy unhealthy velocity.” Which report do you assume is extra correct?
Waldschmidt: “I believe I’ve good bat velocity. I don’t assume it will be potential for me to hit a few of these pitchers, and do what I do, if I didn’t. It wouldn’t be potential for me to place up exit velo numbers, and hit the ball as arduous as I do, with out good bat velocity. I imply, I most likely have one of the vital easy swings in baseball, however I’m nonetheless capable of hit the ball simply as arduous as anybody else.
“Everybody has a special perspective on every little thing, and I believe some individuals are going to actually love what you do, and a few individuals are going to dislike what you do. The one factor that actually issues is, do you perceive why you do the issues that you just do? I perceive every little thing I do as a hitter. I believe that’s the reason I’m capable of have success. On the finish of the day, that’s actually the one factor that issues.”
Laurila: Another factor I’ve learn that caught my consideration was this: “It’s a power-and-OBP-over-hit ability set.” Do you agree with that, or do you see your self extra as hitter who is ready to produce some energy?
Waldschmidt: “I’d agree with how you place it. I’m a hitter who has energy. I’m not an influence hitter who hits generally, I’m a hitter first, and I’ll run into energy. Like I stated earlier, I consider that I’ve superb bat-to-ball expertise. When you look into how I get pitched, and every little thing that goes into that, I believe it’s a much bigger image than simply a stat sheet. The pitches that I get to hit, and the pitches that I take for strikes… the numbers don’t essentially inform all the story.
“I walked virtually identically to the period of time I struck out final 12 months. I don’t assume somebody who lacks bat-to-ball expertise would be capable to do such a factor, and to hit for common in addition to energy. My entire method relies on discovering high quality contact, on barreling line drives. That’s it. I’m trying to go hole to hole, hitting line drives. The ability comes by chance. I’m a hitter first.”
Laurila: Any remaining ideas on hitting?
Waldschmidt: “I believe there are lots of occasions the place guys try to look the half. It’s one thing the place you’re attempting to look so excellent, and do every little thing so excellent, that you just overlook that it’s baseball. The pitcher is throwing you a pitch that has 20 inches of motion on it, so generally your excellent swing must get thrown out the window. You’ve simply obtained to hit the baseball. That’s an enormous issue that lots of people overlook.”