RADFORD, Va. – Radford senior first baseman Alex Gregory (Great Falls, Va./Paul VI) was selected in the 17th round (524th overall) by the New York Mets in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Gregory became the 11th draft selection in program history and the fifth Radford position player to get the call.

In 2009, Gregory hit .407 to win the Big South batting title along with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs and a .518 on-base percentage (league leader).  He was a second-team all-conference selection, an all-academic pick and an all-tournament selection.

One of the most prolific hitters in Radford and Big South conference history, Gregory hit better than .400 in three straight seasons (2007-09), becoming the first player in school and conference history to turn the feat, and is the first Big South player to win the batting crown three times.  Gregory is one of two Division I hitters to reach the .400 mark over the last three seasons (Dustin Ackley, North Carolina).

With his 3-for-5 performance against Coastal Carolina at the Big South tournament (May 21), Gregory became the school's all-time leader in career hits (272).  His eighth-inning homer against the Chanticleers tied Kelly Dampeer (1994-97) with 38 for Radford's career lead.

PLAYER NOTES: ALEX GREGORY

−    Hit .407 for the season to become the first player in Radford and Big South conference history to top the .400 mark in three-straight seasons.
−    Finished his Radford career with a .377 average, the second-best career mark in school history (Duane Filchner - .389).
−    In the Big South career annals, Gregory is tenth in batting average and tied for eighth in home runs.
−    His 2009 on-base percentage of .518 is seventh in conference history (single-season).
−    Led the Big South with a 1.000 fielding percentage in 2009
−    First team All-Big South selection in 2007 and 2008.
−    All-Big South tournament pick in 2008 and 2009.
−    Big South all-academic selection in 2008 and 2009; 2008 Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year.
−    First team academic all-district in 2008.
−    Second team all-state pick (Virginia Sports Information Directors) in 2007 and 2008
−    Had 83 hits in 2008, setting the school's new single-season hits record along with teammate Reggie Keen.
−    Big South Player of the Week May 7-13, 2007, hitting .526 (10-for-19) with three RBIs, three doubles, and seven runs scored.
−    Tied Radford's single-game home run record with three against VMI in the second game of a doubleheader on April 15, 2006.
−    Set Radford's new freshman RBI record with 40 in 2006.

In addition, 2010 signee Eddie Butler (Chesapeake, Va./Greenbrier Christian) was picked in the 35th round (1054th overall) by the Texas Rangers on Thursday.  The right-handed pitcher signed a letter of intent with the Highlanders in the fall. 

Butler was a first-team all-VISSA selection for the Gators in the 2009 season.  Read his accomplishments here.