LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL -- University of Delaware junior infielder Alex Buchholz was selected in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft during the first day of the two-day event held at The Milk House on location in Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex on Thursday evening.

Buchholz (at right) was the 179th player taken during the draft, marking the highest a Blue Hen has been selected since Mark Michael was picked 125th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003.

As a junior, Buchholz served as a tri-captain while finishing fourth on the Hens with a .319 batting average. He also led the squad with three triples and finished fifth with 11 doubles. Although he missed time after suffering a leg injury late in the year, he still had multiple hits in 14 games and at least two RBI in nine contests.

In his career, Buchholz has posted a .366 batting average, which stands as the 14th best in program history. He also ranks eighth with 34 home runs and 10th with 161 RBI.

A first-team preseason All-American selection this year, he has garnered All-Conference honors during each of his three years at Delaware. As a freshman, he was a first-team selection while also earning the Rookie of the Year Award. He was a second-team pick in 2007 and a third-team selection this season.

Buchholz was the fourth player taken from the Colonial Athletic Association in the 2008 draft. UNC Wilmington pitcher Brad Holt was the highest player selected, going 33rd overall to the New York Mets. Two players from the league were taken in the fifth round as William & Mary first baseman Mike Sheridan went to the Tampa Bay Rays with the 143rd overall selection, while Old Dominion pitcher Dan Hudson was picked seven spots later by the Chicago White Sox.

The Cincinnati Reds have now selected three Blue Hens during the last two drafts. Brandon Menchaca went in the 13th round last year, while Mike McGuire was selected in the 46th round but opted to return for his senior season at Delaware.

Buchholz was the first middle infielder taken by the Reds in 2008. They selected first baseman Yonder Alonso from Miami with the 7th overall pick, while they took three straight right-handed pitchers with their next three selections before drafting Buchholz.

The draft will continue tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.