Louisiana Tech placed two more players into the professional ranks Sunday as pitcher Declan Dahl and infielder Colton Coates were selected on the second day of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft.
Dahl, a junior right-hander, was chosen by the Detroit Tigers with the fifth pick of the fifth round, No. 158 overall. Later in the day, Coates, a junior infielder, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 16th round with the 484th overall pick.
Dahl became Louisiana Tech’s highest draft pick since Ryan Jennings was selected in the fourth round by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022.
The two selections continue Louisiana Tech’s tradition of producing professional talent under head coach Lane Burroughs. Since Burroughs arrived in Ruston in 2017, 15 Bulldogs have been selected in the MLB Draft. Dahl became the 84th player in program history to be drafted, while Coates followed as the 85th.
A transfer from Seminole State College, Dahl quickly established himself as Louisiana Tech’s ace during his lone season in Ruston. He went 7-4 with a 3.54 ERA while striking out 102 batters in 89 innings and limiting opponents to a .236 batting average. His performance earned him Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors, first-team All-Conference USA recognition and ABCA/Rawlings All-South Central Region second-team honors.
Coates capped an outstanding junior season by earning second-team All-Conference USA honors after leading the Bulldogs with a .330 batting average. The Southaven, Mississippi, native collected 70 hits, 45 walks and 13 doubles while starting all 58 games. His 45 walks ranked seventh on Louisiana Tech’s single-season list, and he recorded 23 multi-hit games during the season.
Unlike Dahl, whose collegiate eligibility has been exhausted, Coates still has one season of eligibility remaining. As a junior, he can choose to sign with the Red Sox organization or return to Louisiana Tech for his senior season.
The selections further underscore the success Burroughs and his staff have enjoyed in developing professional talent. The Bulldogs have produced 15 MLB Draft picks during Burroughs’ tenure, with 10 of those selections coming in the first 16 rounds.
For Dahl, Sunday’s selection marks the beginning of his professional career with the Tigers organization. Coates now faces a decision on whether to begin his professional career with the Red Sox or return to Ruston for his senior season.
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