The Washington Nationals selected Justin Maxwell with the 114th pick of the 2005 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

June 7, 2005

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland outfielder Justin Maxwell was taken in the fourth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft today by the hometown Washington Nationals. Maxwell, a two-time preseason All-America selection, was selected for the second straight year and third time in his baseball career, as he was chosen with the fourth choice in the fourth round and 114th pick overall.

Maxwell is widely regarded as one of the best athletes in the country, but has had been hampered by injuries as a Terp, playing in just seven games over the last two seasons. Despite missing all of 2004 with a forearm injury, Maxwell was chosen in the 10th round of the 2004 draft by the Texas Rangers, and prior to that, was a 43rd round selection out of Sherwood High School in Olney, Md.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound outfielder was hitting .455 with three home runs, five stolen bases and a .955 slugging percentage through seven games in 2005, before being sidelined with an injury to his left hand. He would miss the team's final 49 games with the injury, but still earned the highest selection of his baseball career and the highest by a Terrapin since John McCurdy was taken in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Oakland Athletics.