June 8, 2005
NEW YORK, N.Y. - UCF senior shortstop Marshall Bernhard (Fernandina Beach, Fla./Fernandina Beach) was selected in the 26th round by the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday in the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Bernhard is the sixth UCF player to be drafted, joining junior right-handed pitcher Mike Billek (Chicago Cubs, third round), junior catcher Drew Butera (New York Mets, fifth round), junior outfielder John-Michael Howell (Washington Nationals, ninth round), senior outfielder Dee Brown (Washington Nationals, 10th round) and senior right-handed pitcher Darren Newlin (Pittsburgh Pirates, 17th round).
In addition, UCF recruit David DiNatale (Parkland, Fla./Douglas) was drafted in the 22nd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. DiNatale was the 661st selection of the draft.
The six UCF players drafted are the second-highest amount in school history. The 1998 team had a school-record 10 players taken in the draft while the 1995 and 2002 squads also had six players drafted.
Bernhard had a strong senior season playing both third base and shortstop for the Golden Knights. After starting the year at third, Bernhard moved midseason to shortstop and played brilliantly in the field to solidify the UCF defense. Bernhard also batted .324 - third on the team - with four home runs and 41 RBI. He stole 25 bases in 30 attempts, the third-highest amount of steals on the team.
In two seasons at UCF, Bernhard hit .313 with four home runs, 71 RBI and 31 stolen bases. He scored 82 runs and collected 120 hits in 115 games.