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Jason David Schmidt is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born on January 29, 1973. On December 6, 2006 in Lewiston, Idaho and is a born-again Christian. Schmidt considers his place of childhood, Kelso Washington, home. He was a 1991 graduate of Kelso High School where he lettered in Football, Basketball and Baseball. While in this school, Schimdt once threw a seven-inning, 20-strikeout no-hitter against Hoquiam High School. During his senior year, he tossed a no-hitter, striking out 20 of 21 batters he faced.

Schmidt was then named Washington's Gatorade State Player of the Year and All-State MVP in baseball. A scholarship to the University of Arizona was offered him but Schmidt chose to sign with the Atlanta Braves after they drafted him in the 8th round of the 1991 MLB Draft. And from there, Schmidt made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Braves, starting 11 games and finishing with a 3-4 record and 2.38 ERA. He made his major league debut in relief on April 28, 1995 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Schmidt recorded his first ML victory in his first start, pitching eight scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs on September 3, 1995.

On August 30, 1996, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Denny Neagle. As a member of the Pirates, Schmidt won 10, 11, and 13 games in 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively. By 2001, Schmidt was then acquired by the Giants with John Vander Wal in exchange for Armando Rios and Ryan Vogelsong. Between his stints in Pittsburgh and San Francisco during the 2001 season, Schmidt compiled 13 wins. Schmidt re-signed as a free agent with San Francisco that winter, in what would become a 5 year $41 million deal. Subsequently, he signed with the Dodgers for a three-year, $47 million contract.

Many baseball players have superstitions and Schmidt has several of them. One would be the family breakfast of French Toast on game day. Another is that he never steps on the foul line when walking to or from the pitching mound. Scmidt also never talks to media the day before he starts.

Currently, Schimdt is out for more than two years with shoulder problems, but the good news is that he will start for the Dodgers against the Reds on Monday night as what his manager, Joe Torre, announced. Jason is married to Bethany and they have three children: Makynlee, Mason and Madden.

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