Arkansas skipper Dave Van Horn sure knows how to pick them. And UA pitching coach Dave Jorn apparently knows how to prepare them. Even the New York Yankees were likely envious of Arkansas' starting rotation this season. While that assumption is an obvious stretch, it's only sensationalizing the sensational starting pitching Arkansas fans were privileged to watch this season. Arkansas fans got to see ace left-hander Nick Schmidt break the school's all-time strikeout record at Baum Stadium. Many Hogs fans made the sojourn to Hoover, Ala., while others watched intently from their televisions as junior college transfer Jess Todd broke the single-game strikeout record of both Arkansas and the SEC Tournament when he mowed down 17 South Carolina Gamecocks in a 6-0 shutout victory.

Another junior college move-in, righty Duke Welker, was solid in a 3-2 win over South Carolina, propelling the Hogs into the SEC Tournament title game. The Arkansas faithful got to watch Welker hit 97 mph on the radar gun during that start.

And on Thursday, Arkansas fans shared in the moment as the trio got word early on that it would be plying its trade at the next level.

Schmidt became the highest pick since 1999 when he was selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round with the 23 rd overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Several projections had Schmidt going as high as No. 8 to the Colorado Rockies.

A blissful Schmidt looked relieved in his Thursday press conference at Baum Stadium. There was no way this once-wide-eyed freshman was going to complain about slipping a few spots.

And when Welker, who expected to be selected anywhere from 40-70, went in the second round to the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 68 th overall pick, he said he felt like the chips were stacked in his favor.

Todd watched for his name on a computer screen. And when he saw his name lit up in liquid crystal as the Cardinals' second-round selection at No. 82, he nearly jumped out of his shorts.

It was a satisfactory consolation prize for a disheartening ending to a season that ended all too abruptly for Arkansas players and fans. Though there's not much consolation for fans in watching possibly one of the most complete pitching rotations in school history break up with an early departure. But not one of us would likely turn down the six- and seven-figure signing bonuses these three are each likely to fetch.

The average signing bonus of the No. 23 pick for the last three years has been $ 1. 4 million. The No. 68 pick has hauled in an average bonus of $ 550, 000 and the 82 nd choice has garnered a sum of $ 450, 000.

Not even Van Horn can think of a reason to stay at Arkansas with numbers like that being tossed around. When your life-long dream comes neatly wrapped accompanied by a bag stuffed full of cash, you take it.

But Van Horn is likely to reload next season. He's already hot on the recruiting trails.

No one could have seen an electric arm like Todd's coming this season. Hopefully for Razorback Nation, seeing is believing in a bright future in 2008.

Heath Allen is a sports writer for the Northwest Arkansas Times.