University of Albany's Mike Konstanty Selected By Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball Draft: UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Mike Konstanty became the sixth player in the baseball program’s history to be chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft when the Cincinnati Reds took him in the 39th round on Friday, June 6. Konstanty, a senior first baseman, was the 1,169th player selected in the 2008 MLB Draft.

Konstanty, at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, established the school’s single-season record with 13 home runs this spring. He had a .295 batting average with 18 doubles, 47 RBI and a .591 slugging percentage. A native of Oneonta, N.Y., Konstanty started all 55 games and totaled 57 hits and 45 runs.

“We are very proud of the opportunity that he has been given to play at the next level,” UAlbany coach Jon Mueller said. “Mike put together a nice season and was very disciplined in his everyday approach. He worked hard for this moment.”

UAlbany catcher Tom Hill was taken by the Kansas City Royals in 34th round one year ago. Terry Kenny was the first Great Dane to be drafted in 1974, when San Francisco selected him in the ninth round. In the Division I era, Steve Checksfield (Houston, 10th round) was drafted in 2001, Mike Grasso (Atlanta, 11th round) was picked in 2002 and Adam Kroft (San Diego, 30th round) was chosen in 2004.