The Washington Nationals made Missouri State junior lefthander Ross Detwiler the sixth overall selection in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Draft Thursday afternoon at the draft ceremony in Orlando, Fla.

Detwiler is the highest draft pick ever to play at Missouri State, eclipsing RHP Brett Sinkbeil’s first-round selection (19th overall) by the Florida Marlins last season.

Detwiler had a 2.22 ERA and .198 opponent batting average this season as Missouri State’s ace. His 110 strikeouts this season rank second in school history. For his career, the southpaw ranks fourth in Missouri State history with 244 strikeouts and eighth with a 3.12 ERA over 216 innings pitched. Detwiler has averaged 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings and opponents have hit .210 against him for his career.

Detwiler is the second-highest player ever drafted from the Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State’s Darren Dreifort is the highest player ever drafted from the MVC, going second overall in 1993. Evansville’s Andy Benes was the first selection in 1988 but the Purple Aces were not an MVC member in baseball until 1995. WSU’s Mike Pelfrey went ninth in 2005.

Professional clubs must sign drafted players by August 15 or the rights to that player are lost and they can reenter the draft in 2008. The draft continues until 7:30 Thursday evening and then resumes Friday morning and goes until completion.