It was a day that they will never forget.

While Arkansas pitchers Nick Schmidt, Jess Todd and Duke Welker were disheartened by the way their college careers ended, all three are ecstatic about the prospect of a professional future.

Arkansas left-hander Nick Schmidt was taken by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Thursday. Schmidt was the 23 rd overall pick.

Welker, a 6-7 right-hander, was the next Hog selected. He went to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round with the 68 th overall pick.

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Arkansas righty Jess Todd wasn’t far behind. He went to St. Louis in the second round with the 82 nd overall selection.

Schmidt is the first Razorback taken in the first round of the MLB Draft since David Walling went to the New York Yankees with the 27 th overall pick in 1999. Schmidt is also the highest Arkansas player taken since Jeff King was the first overall pick in the 1986 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Schmidt was projected as high as the No. 8 overall pick (Colorado Rockies ) by MLB. com writer Jonathan Mayo.

“ It doesn’t matter that I dropped a little. I got my named called and that’s what I wanted, ” Schmidt said. “ It’s an awesome feeling. From what they’ve said and what I’ve heard the Padres wanted me from the get-go and they were surprised I was still there [at No. 23 ]. I’m just appreciative that I have this opportunity. Coming in here as a freshman I never imagined I would be a first-round draft pick. ”

Schmidt, the 2006 SEC Pitcher of the Year, went 11-3 with 111 strikeouts and a 2. 69 ERA this season. Schmidt’s 11 wins in 2007 were the third most in school history. He became Arkansas’ all-time leader in strikeouts in 2007 with 345 total for his career. He accumulated a 28-8 record in three years at Arkansas and finished third on the school’s all-time wins list.

He also tied the school record with 124 innings pitched this year and finished with a. 196 opponent batting average, which led the Southeastern Conference.

But all of that experience couldn’t prepare him for the waiting game of draft day.

“ It was a little agonizing and my nerves were going crazy, ” Schmidt said. “ When I got my name called it was a very emotional time for me... Between picks I am pacing and walking around and it was dragging on. But it was great to finally hear my name... I was thinking the Diamondbacks at No. 9 and then maybe 11 or 13. But that’s life and sometimes things don’t work out like you planned. I’m just grateful for the chance. ”

Although Schmidt, a St. Louis native, is content with San Diego he did admit he got very nervous when his hometown Cardinals were on the clock with the 18 th pick.

“ I really didn’t have any preference coming in, ” Schmidt said. “ Obviously I was thinking St. Louis at No. 18 would have been nice but I really just wanted the chance to play at the next level and I’m glad to have it. ”

ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips, who is also a former general manager, compared Schmidt to New York Yankee lefty Andy Pettitte.

“ A lot of people have compared him to a guy like Andy Pettitte, ” Phillips said. “... He’s guy who keeps coming at you and changes speeds. He commands his pitches and keeps the hitters off-balance with an exceptional changeup and can get you deep into games. ”

The Pirates used their second pick on Welker, who came to Arkansas last year from Seminole [Okla. ] State College. Welker posted a 7-5 record in 18 starts for the Razorbacks in 2007 with a 3. 59 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 97. 2 innings.

“ I thought I’d go anywhere from 40-70 and I am ecstatic about it an it’s an awesome feeling, ” Welker said. “ Everything you’ve worked for all your life is finally paying off. I know the Pirates needed right-handed pitching and I’ve got to focus, perform and hopefully I can fill that need for them. ”

Todd hopes to help out an aging St. Louis pitching staff.

Todd, a right-hander out of Navarro [Texas ] College, finished with a 9-3 record, two saves and a 2. 89 ERA this season. His 128 strikeouts in 93. 1 innings are tied for the third-most strikeouts in a single season in school history. Todd broke the school and SEC Tournament for strikeouts in a single game when he whiffed 17 in a 6-0 shutout of South Carolina.

“ I was watching the draft on the Internet with some of the guys and when I saw my name I couldn’t believe it, ” Todd said. “ It’s a moment I will never forget. I grew up a Texas Rangers fans but I am definitely a Cardinals fan now. I am very comfortable with how everything turned out. ”