Alex Buchholz
Delaware Blue Hens |
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Confident but not cocky, proud but not arrogant,
the University of Delaware’s Alex Buchholz is one the
most determined, dynamic and exciting players in college baseball.
His success was instant at Delaware, as Buchholz compiled
one of the most spectacular freshman seasons in Delaware baseball
history batting .378 with a Blue Hen-high 18 home runs and
64 RBI.  He
ranked in the top twenty-five nationally in homeruns per game
(15th at .34), RBI per game (25th at 1.21), slugging percentage
(14th at .721) and runs per game (24th at 1.17). As an aggressive,
athletic second baseman wearing Delaware’s unique blue
and gold, comparisons to former Blue Hen and MLB All-Star
Tom Herr were immediate and warranted.
A switch to shortstop his sophomore season
didn’t compromise his ability to put bat onto ball.
Buchholz continued to rack up more hits than Hannah Montana
and Miley Cyrus combined (Did you ever notice you never see
both of them in the same place at the same time? Strange...).
He raised his average to a hearty .387 which ranked 72nd in
the country, while also ranking himself amongst the national
leaders in 27 doubles (4th), 6 triples (27th) and RBI per
game (28th at 1.15). He also added 11 homeruns to finish with
a .689 slugging percentage. With a strong arm and ingrained
baseball instincts, Buchholz played solid defense and even
turned an unassisted triple play against the Hofstra Pride
on March 24th.
Over the summer Buchholz played for the Youse’s
Maryland Orioles of the Cal Ripken Sr. League. He batted .270
in the pitcher friendly league, placing him 15th overall.
He had a league leading four sacrifice flies and also ranked
high amongst the leaders in RBI and was nine of ten in stolen
base attempts.
This season Buchholz has changed positions
once again and is slated to fill the void left at third base
with the graduation of last year’s starter, Ryan Jablonski.
Like Buchholz did the year before, the versatile Kyle Davis
will bring his supple leather and outstanding range from second
base to shortstop. With his ability to play anywhere in the
infield and ability to pitch in a pinch (he went 2-0 with
a 4.91 ERA and two saves in six appearances as a freshman,
striking out 14 batters in 18 innings), Buchholz was named
to the 2008 Preseason All Ping! Team as a first unit selection
at the utility position.
Another sensation season and Buchholz will
undeniably have his name called in the first day of next year’s
MLB amateur draft, filling his lifetime dream of playing professional
baseball. A fate Blue Hen’s Head Coach Jim Sherman will
face with bittersweet sentiment as his star student-athlete
will be leaving campus for the professional ranks.
When asked about Buchholz, Sherman had nothing
but praise, “This is a kid that does everything well
on the baseball field – he’s the complete player.
Alex has tremendous hand eye coordination and has the great
ability to slow the game down. Never overmatched at the plate
or defensively, he reminds me of Jeff Kent. I feel he has
the opportunity to go in the first three rounds. He has all
the making of a legitimate big leaguer!”
Not simply gifted as a baseball player, Buchholz’s
athletic ability has transferred to other sports as well.
In high school he also lettered in soccer and basketball,
once making 11 three-pointers in a game for the Old Mill Patriots;
however Buchholz admits, it took a lot of shots to make all
those baskets.
The Blue Hens just missed a bid to the NCAA’s
last season, when Virginia Commonwealth erupted for six runs
in the 13th inning to capture the Colonial Athletic Assocation
championship in the longest game in the 22-year history of
the tournament. A situation Buchholz and the Hens hope to
remedy this season. In the 2008 preseason coaches poll, Delaware
garnished two of eleven first place votes and look to be in
good shape, especially if few young pitchers and freshman
can stop out to fill some of the spots vacated by four Blue
Hens who were selected in last years’ MLB amateur draft.
A fifth player, senior Mike McGuire (3-1, 4.26, 27 Ks in 31.2
IP) was also drafted, but returned to school.
Buchholz and the Blue Hens begin their season
Feb. 22 against The Citadel, followed by a pair of doubleheaders
the next weekend (March 1st and 2nd) against Princeton.
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