Not just one, but two former Oakland University pitchers will be under contract for Major League Baseball (MLB) teams this upcoming season.

On June 6, Jake Lee was drafted to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ninth of 40 rounds of the MLB draft. He was one of nine Horizon League players drafted this year, which brought the all-time total for the Horizon League to 160 players.

Lee earned All-Academic, All-Tournament and All-League second team honors this year in his senior season. He recorded a 7-4 win-loss record with a 4.54 Earned Run Average (E.R.A.), as well as a Horizon League leading 112 strikeouts. Lee was also one of the most dependable pitchers in the Horizon League, recording the fifth most innings (75.1).

Tyler Palm is a former Golden Grizzly who has been playing professional baseball for the Eastside Diamond Hoppers in the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) for two years. On June 9, after a game against the Utica Unicorns, Palm was offered a contract by the Minnesota Twins.

The six-foot-nine inch right-hander became the 21st player in USPBL history to sign a contract with an MLB team. He has been impressive in his second season with the Hoppers, with a 3-1 win-loss record and a dominant 1.40 E.R.A.. Palm has struck out 26 batters and only allowed 25 hits in his 25 innings this season. With the win on June 9, Palm recorded his third win in a row, which obviously caught the attention of the Twins.

The day after he signed with the Twins, he flew out to Fort Myers, Fla. and participated in minicamp with the other recent signees and draftees, according to uspbl.com’s official statement. Coincidentally, last season another Hoppers pitcher, Tanner Kiest, signed with the Minnesota Twins as well.