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

Daniel Schlereth just can't quit the state of Michigan.

Schlereth, a former pitcher with the Detroit Tigers who began his college coaching career at Western Michigan, is returning to the Mitten as a staff member at Michigan State, the school announced this week.

Schlereth will be Michigan State baseball's director of operations, technology and pitching development.

Schlereth said in a statement this week:

I am incredibly grateful to coach Jake Boss and coach Mark Van Ameyde for the opportunity to contribute to the Spartan baseball program. Coach Boss was actually the first person I reached out to when I began my journey into college coaching, which makes the opportunity to now join his talented staff especially meaningful. I'm excited to return to the state of Michigan, a place where my family and I have created so many great memories. From my time playing for the Detroit Tigers to coaching with the Western Michigan Broncos, Michigan has played an important role in both my baseball career and my family's life. Michigan is a special place with some of the most passionate professional and collegiate fan bases in the country. I'm thrilled to now have the opportunity to be part of the Spartan baseball program. I'm excited to get to work, build relationships with the players, contribute to their development, learn from an outstanding coaching staff, and do everything I can to help continue building on the tradition of Michigan State baseball.

I am incredibly grateful to coach Jake Boss and coach Mark Van Ameyde for the opportunity to contribute to the Spartan baseball program. Coach Boss was actually the first person I reached out to when I began my journey into college coaching, which makes the opportunity to now join his talented staff especially meaningful.

I'm excited to return to the state of Michigan, a place where my family and I have created so many great memories. From my time playing for the Detroit Tigers to coaching with the Western Michigan Broncos, Michigan has played an important role in both my baseball career and my family's life. Michigan is a special place with some of the most passionate professional and collegiate fan bases in the country.

I'm thrilled to now have the opportunity to be part of the Spartan baseball program. I'm excited to get to work, build relationships with the players, contribute to their development, learn from an outstanding coaching staff, and do everything I can to help continue building on the tradition of Michigan State baseball.

Schlereth, 40, spent the last two seasons as pitching coach at USF, with the Bulls going 63-43, including 32-21 in 2026. Two of his pitchers at USF were drafted, including left-hander Edwin Alicea by the Tigers in the 14th round this year.

Before his USF tenure, Schlereth began his college coaching career at Western Michigan , where he was pitching coach for two years under head coach Billy Gernon. On his watch, the Broncos won the 2024 Mid-American Conference tournament championship and made the NCAAs, finishing 32-22. It was the program's most wins since 1993. Schlereth's pitching staff turned in two shutouts during the 2024 MAC tournament.

In 2024, Western Michigan had seven shutouts, tied for second in the nation, and recorded 444 strikeouts, the most in program history. The Broncos allowed 99 hits and 254 hits, fewest in the MAC.

Prior to arriving in Kalamazoo, Schlereth had stints in player development with the Pittsburgh Pirates and as manager of the Joliet Slammers in the Frontier League.

Schlereth, a left-hander, was a first-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008, and he broke into the majors with Arizona in 2009. In December 2009, he was traded as part of a three-team blockbuster that also sent Max Scherzer to the Tigers from the Diamondbacks, and Phil Coke and Austin Jackson from the New York Yankees to the Tigers. Curtis Granderson went from the Tigers to the Yankees, and Edwin Jackson went from the Tigers to the Diamondbacks.

Schlereth made 73 appearances for the Tigers, all in relief, over three seasons, posting a 3.98 ERA. In 2011, his best season in Detroit, he made 49 appearances with a 3.49 ERA and 1.367 WHIP, striking out 44 in 49 innings. He also pitched for the Tigers in that year's postseason.

He spent most of 2012 at Triple-A Toledo, before he was released by the Tigers in January 2013. He bounced around the minors with seven different teams from 2013-19, but never reached it back to the majors.

"We're very excited that Danny is able to join our staff," Boss said in a statement. "He has a wealth of experience from his big-league career and then also at the collegiate level both at Western Michigan and USF. He will bring invaluable experience to our team and another perspective that will help our guys on every aspect of baseball."

Schlereth is the latest former major-leaguer to join the Michigan State staff. Former outfielder Adam Eaton was director of player development from 2022-25 , before joining Kurt Suzuki 's coaching staff with the Los Angeles Angels .