Girodo ends college in CWS, in MLB draft
Chad Girodo has one dream since he began playing sports many years ago – becoming a professional baseball player.
On Friday, that dream became a reality.
After a short trip back to Hartselle to see his family right before the Fourth of July, Girodo flew to Florida where he signed his contract with Toronto. The Blue Jays organization drafted him 265th overall in the 2014 MLB draft.
“I always wanted this to happen, but I just never dreamed that I would get this chance,” Girodo said.
The 6-1 2009 graduate of Hartselle High School thought he had a chance to go in the draft, but he had no idea that it would be with the Blue Jays.
“It was a little higher than I thought it was going to be,” Girodo said. “I had been talking with Tampa. I had even done a physical with them. I was surprised when Toronto picked me. I hadn’t talked with them before draft day.
“It was just great to get that call.”
Now, Girodo will play in the minor leagues beginning in Vancouver, British Columbia.
But that was only the end of his whirlwind spring.
It began as Mississippi State got hot in SEC play and continued that streak into the postseason, which is where Girodo thrived. He had 41 strikeouts and finished the season with a 1.36 ERA. He was 3-0 and pitched a gutty performance against UCLA, a game which the Bulldogs lost 3-1.
“I guess everything just came together for me right at the end of the season,” Girodo said. “I’m not sure that anything changed. It just started working for me.”
Girodo credits a lot of his success from the leadership of Hartselle baseball coach William Booth, with whom he won a state title in his senior season.
“Coach Booth is a great coach. It really prepared me for the next level. I give him a lot of credit for that,” Girodo said.
Hartselle alum Chad Girodo pitches against Indiana in the College World Series, which was held in Omaha, Neb., in June. Girodo was one the Bulldogs’ leaders during their run in the NCAA Tournament to the Division 1 finals, where they fell to UCLA. | Mississippi State Athletics: Michelle Bishop
