Mississippi State pitcher Chad Girodo of Hartselle was a ninth-round pick in the Major League Baseball draft of the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Girodo (8-1, 1.38) was the 265th selection overall. He ranks fourth on the team in wins and registered 12 of his 63 strikeouts last week in a regional-clinching 6-1 win over Central Arkansas.

He followed that performance with another series-clinching win over Virginia. The game actually began on Sunday and was suspended by rain.

The game finished up on Monday with the Bulldogs winning 6-5. Girodo pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits and two runs with 10 strikeouts.

Through Monday’s action, Girodo has appeared in 34 games, pitched in 45 2/3 innings, allowed 37 hits in 170 at bats for a .218 average and gave up 13 earned runs for an average of 1.38.

His 63 strikeouts for the season ranks him fourth among Mississippi State’s staff.

As a senior at Hartselle, Girodo compiled a team-leading 17-1 record with an 0.47 and helped lead the Tigers to a nation-leading 50-9 record, the state 5A championship and a No. 22 national ranking.

Mississippi State is making its first trip to the College World Series since 2009.