Delaware State’s Michael Lane drafted by the Detroit Tigers

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

The Delaware State University baseball team is a hidden gem for major league scouts, as another player from the program was drafted on Sunday. Junior right-handed pitcher Michael Lane was drafted in the 16th round with the 486th overall pick by the Detroit Tigers.

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Lane joins Trey Paige ( 2023, St. Louis Cardinals), Garrett Lawson (2019, Los Angeles Angels), Dan Perkins ( 2009, Colorado Rockies), Eric Carter (2004, Seattle Mariners), and Pedro Swann ( 1991, Atlanta Braves) of DSU players who were drafted by Major League Baseball teams.

The Bear, Delaware native selection is the second-earliest a Hornets baseball player has gotten chosen in the draft by an MLB team. Eric Carter holds the title of the program’s earliest draft pick, as he was selected in the 10th round in 2004 by the Seattle Mariners.

Michael ends his three-year career with Del State with a 7.08 ERA, 7-17 record, pitched one complete game, struck out 155 batters in 38 appearances and 21 starts.

In 2026, his first time as a full-time starter, he went 4-9 with a 7.12 ERA and struck out 88 batters in 14 appearances.

He was sixth in the Northeast Conference in innings pitched last season with 73.1 innings.

Opposing batters did not want to see him as he was second in the Conference in 2026 in strikeouts with 88.

Lane was first in the Conference with batters striking out looking with 36.