Former Tigers pitcher is latest big-leaguer to join MSU baseball staff

Daniel Schlereth, a former pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, is joining the Michigan State University baseball staff as its director of operations, technology, and pitching development. The school announced this development this week. Schlereth will work closely with head coach Jake Boss and assistant coach Mark Van Ameyde.

In a statement, Schlereth expressed his gratitude to Boss and Van Ameyde, noting that the opportunity to join their staff is particularly meaningful. He added that he is excited to return to Michigan, a state that has been significant to both his baseball career and his family's life.

Schlereth began his coaching career at Western Michigan, where he served as the pitching coach for two years. During his tenure there, Western Michigan won the 2024 Mid-American Conference tournament championship and made the NCAAs, finishing with a 32-22 record – the program's most wins since 1993. Schlereth's pitching staff also recorded 444 strikeouts that year, the most in program history.

Before his time at Western Michigan, Schlereth had stints in player development with the Pittsburgh Pirates and as the manager of the Joliet Slammers in the Frontier League. He was a first-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 and made his Major League Baseball debut with the team in 2009. Schlereth played three seasons in Detroit, posting a 3.98 ERA. He finished his major league career with 73 relief appearances, including a 3.49 ERA in 2011, his best season.