Jordan McFarland

Recent Waterloo High School graduate Jordan McFarland was selected in the 36th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Washington Nationals on Saturday, but family members say he will forego professional baseball for now and attend the University of Arkansas.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound McFarland hit .500 for the Bulldogs this spring with six home runs, 37 stolen bases and 49 runs scored. He transferred from Gibault after his junior season following three strong seasons there. In December, McFarland was named Perfect Game USA’s 17-under National Player of the Year.

McFarland verbally committed to Arkansas following his sophomore year of high school.

“He was in negotiations with several teams as early as the first, second and third rounds,” Jordan’s uncle, Kevin McFarland, told the Republic-Times of the draft experience this weekend. “Jordan and his family placed a high ceiling on his scholarship to Arkansas.”

The Nationals had flown in McFarland for a workout shortly before the draft.

“The late-round selection by Washington was a ‘just in case you change your mind’ pick,” Kevin McFarland explained. “It had no significance. If (Jordan) would have accepted a pick it could have been possibly round one, but definitely second, third or fourth.”