ATHENS — University of Georgia senior pitcher Alex McRee, a Chestatee High graduate, was selected in the 14th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft Tuesday.

Then in the 19th round, the Baltimore Orioles selected Ken Wise, a 2008 East Hall High graduate, with the 568th overall selection. This season, Wise was tied for the team high in wins with a 5-2 record and a 4.20 ERA at Santa Fe College in
Gainesville, Fla.

Then in the 22nd round, 2006 Riverside Military graduate Tyler Stubblefield was drafted by the San Diego Padres (No. 664 overall).

As a senior, Stubblefield hit .285 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs at Kennesaw State University.

McRee, a 6-7, 235-pound left hander went 0-1 with a 7.25 ERA and three saves in 22 1/3 innings pitched this season.

He was the 442nd overall selection in the draft. In his final season, he struggled with his control, finishing with 32 walks, 14 wild pitches and 38 strikeouts in 20 appearances including two starts. However, while at Georgia, he helped the Bulldogs to the 2008 College World Series Finals and the 2009 NCAA Tallahassee Regional.

“I had a mental block this season, and I think that could’ve scared off some teams, and really I got unlucky the past two seasons with that and when I got mononucleosis last year,” said McRee.

As a sophomore for the Southeastern Conference champion Bulldogs, McRee went 7-1 with a 3.98 ERA in 31 appearances. As a junior, he went 4-4 with a 6.27 ERA in 15 appearances. For his career, he went 13-10 with four saves in 85 games including 21 starts.

McRee’s 85 appearances rank fifth in school history.

Last year, McRee was a 26th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers and opted to return to Georgia for his final season.
He is a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a biology major who needs just one more semester to earn his degree.

McRee is the third member of the current Bulldogs to be drafted Tuesday, joining pitchers Justin Grimm (fifth round, Texas) and Jeff Walters (seventh round, New York Mets).

All of Georgia’s starting position players this past season were freshmen and sophomores and thus not available to be drafted.

The Bulldogs have a string of 37 straight seasons with at least one player signing a professional contract.

In 2009, Georgia led the nation with 11 players selected in the amateur draft.