Michael Bonner

The Clarion-Ledger

STARKVILLE – Dakota Hudson heard his named called during the MLB draft for the second time in his career on Thursday.

The St. Louis Cardinals selected the Mississippi State ace 34th overall as MLB hosted the first two rounds of its amateur draft in Secaucus, New Jersey. It was the final pick of the first round. The slot value for the position is $1.87 million.

Hudson is the 13th Mississippi State player selected in the first round. He was projected as a top 10 pick throughout the year, but he struggled against quality opponents during the last two months. He allowed eight runs, six earned, on 13 hits in his last 8 ⅓ innings.

“There’s a lot that runs through your head,” Hudson said on Wednesday. “You just see what you’ve gone through in the past and all the experiences you’ve had in college. It’s just another opportunity for you to go on.”

Hudson dominated his final three starts of the regular season against SEC bottom feeders Missouri, Auburn and Arkansas. The trio finished 24-66 in the SEC. Hudson allowed two runs in 26 ⅓ innings against the three teams.

Prior to that stretch, however, the right-hander struggled against the upper half of the SEC. Against Florida, Texas A&M, LSU and Alabama, he allowed 21 runs, 19 earned, in 23 ⅓ innings with 36 hits and eight walks.

Hudson's selection comes after MSU didn't have a player selected last year for the first time since 1976.

He was selected in the 36th round in 2013 by the Texas Rangers out of Sequatchie County High School, but the Dunlap, Tennessee, native elected to play at Mississippi State.

Hudson went 9-4 with a 2.62 ERA this season. He entered the season with a career ERA of 4.50.

Hudson evolved into a first-round pick last summer at the Cape Cod League. He earned MSU’s Pitcher of the Summer after striking out 54 in 56 ⅔ innings. He left the Cape with a 1.43 ERA. His performance caught the attention of major league scouts.

“It looked like the strike-throwing had gotten a lot better,” the major league scout told The Clarion-Ledger at the beginning of the season. “He was more competitive in the strike zone. Any time a guy with that type of arm can get in the strike zone like he did over the summer. He’s got a chance to make big strides in terms of how he’s viewed as a prospect.”

Through his three-year career, Hudson earned honors such as first-team All-SEC, second-team All-American and was named a semifinalist to the Golden Spikes Award.

Hudson earned MSU’s Friday night spot throughout the season. He started MSU’s regional opener against Southeast Missouri State last weekend.

He added first-round draft pick to those accolades a day before Mississippi State opens the super regional against Arizona on Friday (5 p.m., ESPN2).

“I think it’s pretty big. I’m trying not to think about it. And you do, but I’m just trying to get focused in,” Hudson said. “With that in the back of your head, there’s nothing you can really do about it.”

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.