Phillies legend Mike Schmidt: Jimmy Rollins should be considered for Hall of Fame

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins is hitting .251 with six home runs and 22 RBI this season. (Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins is about to pass Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt for the franchise lead in career hits, and Schmidt thinks that Rollins should be considered for enshrinement in the Hall, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

Schmidt had 2,225 career hits in Philadelphia, and Rollins is 10 hits away from breaking that mark.

"My assessment would be that if Barry Larkin is in the Hall of Fame, you've got to think about Jimmy Rollins," said Schmidt, a part-time member of the Phillies' broadcast team. "The importance for him is to finish out strong the next three to four years and continue to be a force.

"I can't see Jimmy Rollins as a bench player or a DH. I can't see him sort of tailing off or hanging around. I see him being an offensive force and a great defensive player for the rest of his career. If you add that to where he is now, he's going to get some consideration for the Hall of Fame."

Rollins has made three All-Star teams and is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner. He won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2007 and helped the Phillies to a World Series title the next season.

Larkin, a Hall of Fame inductee in 2012, won three Gold Gloves in his career and the NL MVP with the Cincinnati Reds in 1995.

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