Several prestigious baseball programs have tried to get their hands on the catcher and power hitter, who is currently playing with the Mclennan Community College baseball team, which plays in Division 1 within the National Junior College Athletic Association (JUCO) .
The second-year student is having a notable stint with the McLennan College Highlanders in Texas.
First Quebecer
He was recently invited to the Texas-New Mexico Junior College Baseball Coaches Association all-star game in mid-September.
After being the first Quebec baseball player to play with McLennan College, Lachance will become the first Quebecer to do the same with the Oklahoma baseball team.
A proven power hitter, Lachance played in all 62 games for his team in his first season, posting a .355 batting average, with 14 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 69 RBIs.
He was thus selected to the first all-star team of the conference.
It was on the way to a game with his Highlanders team that Lachance recounted the last days that led to his agreement with the Sooners.
“We sorted out the final details on Monday. Many schools contacted me, I had to find the best situation for me. I wanted to find a program where I could play right off the bat; Oklahoma loses both receivers next year. And the Sooners play in the best conference in the country, so I decided to jump at the opportunity,” Lachance said of the baseball program that plays in the SEC conference.
The University of Oklahoma is located north of Dallas, Texas.
“I’ve talked to a few schools that play in this conference. But the fact that the head coach of the Sooners, Skip Johnson, is the father of my coach at the Highlanders, Tyler Johnson, that played into the balance. Skip had been following me for a long time, I felt wanted and it was clear to me that I was going to Oklahoma.
This important decision will allow Deiten Lachance to play his next season without being distracted by campus visits or meetings with possible programs interested in his services.
“I took my time, I did what I had to do, I didn’t want to make a mistake, because I wanted to play my matches without always thinking about that. I had to find a school before next fall, to ensure I could continue my journey next year. Within my first week on campus, several programs texted me, called me and wanted to have me visit.”
The University of Oklahoma baseball program is one of the oldest in the United States, dating back to 1898.
In 2022, the team lost in the College World Series final to Ole Miss.
“Last year, they won the Big 12, one of the best conferences in baseball, and now they have just transferred to the SEC conference, the best in baseball. There are 14 teams in this conference, and when you are a good player, you play in this conference. I was really well treated during my time there, it was incredible, so the choice was easy,” says Lachance.
The latter will play the next season, until fall 2025, with Mclennan College.
His decision to leave the country to play for a baseball program that was part of the American JUCO was therefore the best in his case.
“Our season ends in June, and I will begin my time with the Sooners in the fall. It was a good decision to go through a JUCO club. I wouldn’t have been able to get seen by the big American programs otherwise. It’s really the best fit for me.”
Become a better hitter, and a better catcher
Already well served by his power, Deiten Lachance wants to improve this aspect of his game.
“I know that my strength is my power. And I want to get even more to make sure that next year I have my job with the Sooners. I also want to improve behind the plate, as a catcher. I know I’m a good receiver, but I still want to improve it.”
Lachance said he hit over .500 in his fall baseball.
“After my freshman year, as soon as I came back here, I knew what to expect. So from the start, I attacked the fall season as if it were the regular season. Oklahoma needs a number one receiver next year, so they want a guy who is going to come in and play from the start. Their best hitter is leaving too, and they’d like me to move fourth in the batting order. That’s when they contacted me and explained their plan,” says Lachance.
Raphaël Pelletier, in Kentucky, should be the only other Quebec baseball player to play in the SEC conference in 2025, he says.
Oklahoma or the majors
All options are still on the table for the latter’s future.
Lachance is still eligible for the next Major Baseball League (MLB) draft next season.
It is therefore possible that he will be drafted in 2025. If this is not the case, he will head to Oklahoma.
“They’re two good plan A!”, he laughs.
The latter is represented by the same agent as Charles Leblanc, Jethro Supré.
