“I don’t understand why he wasn’t drafted,” says Northeastern coach Mike Glavine, who is grateful to renew Lane’s power and positive attitude as the Huskies open their season.
Northeastern University baseball coach Mike Glavine is happy to see Alex Lane back with the Huskies for another season — especially since he had anticipated that Lane might be playing professionally by now.
“I don’t understand why he wasn’t drafted,” says Glavine, who was expecting Lane to be picked in the Major League Baseball Draft in July. “I know it’s probably a point of disappointment and frustration with him, but he absolutely doesn’t show it at all.”
The unexpected outcome last summer promises to work out well this spring for both the Huskies and their star slugger, who emerged in 2024 as a third-team All-American while hitting .375 with 18 homers and a school record-tying 80 RBIs. Lane is among the preseason contenders listed by the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, which honors the top non-professional player in the nation.
Lane enters his graduate year as one of five Huskies to make the CAA’s preseason all-conference team — a big reason why rival coaches picked Northeastern to finish third.
Joining Lane are fellow All-CAA preseason picks Cam Maldonado (outfield), Jack Goodman (infield), Gregory Bozzo (catcher) and Jack Beauchesne (closer). Three experienced transfers should replenish a pitching staff that last season allowed more than four runs per game — the first time that happened in five years.
“They fit the mold of a Northeastern baseball team that we’ve become accustomed to watching,” says Glavine, seeking a third straight season of 35 or more wins. “They’re tough and they’re talented — so I’m excited.”
Lane is more than a power hitter. He’s a versatile defender who will play first base as well as left field. At 6 feet, 5 inches, he was fast enough to steal 14 bases in 15 attempts last season. Most impressive to Glavine is Lane’s maturation when facing a third strike.
“He hits the ball a long way but he’s also a good hitter,” Glavine says. “When he gets to two strikes he has a plan, a focus, an approach. Alex is the same hitter the entire at-bat.”
“They’ve helped me a lot with that,” Lane says of Glavine and his coaching staff. “We talk as an offense about competing in the box. You’re not just competing for yourself. You’re competing for the team. You don’t want to give in with two strikes and be an easy out. You want to keep the line moving, get the next guy in the box, get on base for the guy behind you, drive in guys that are on base in front of you.”
“It takes a special person that has a lot of confidence in himself and doesn’t let the moment get too big,” Glavine says of Lane’s approach under pressure. “It’s about slowing the heart rate and having that compete level, like, ‘You’re not going to strike me out. You’re not striking me out and I don’t mind this moment. It’s not too big for me.’”
Which adds to the mystery of Lane’s unexpected return to Northeastern. Each local MLB scout canvassed by Glavine predicted that Lane would be picked in the draft.
“I talked to every team,” Glavine says. “I asked, ‘Did you put him in for the draft? Do you see him going?’ And it was ‘yes’ across the board. They varied on which round, but they all had him going in the draft.”
Northeastern teammates Mike Sirota and Dennis Colleran were picked. After Lane’s phone never rang, he took a short time off to “decompress,” says Glavine. Then it was back to work.
Lane says the draft outcome provides him with no extra motivation.
“Each team has their preference of what they like,” says Lane, who is pursuing an MBA at Northeastern. “I don’t have any hard feelings about it. It’s in the past.”
Glavine believes that’s a healthy approach.
“I’ve seen kids not get drafted who come back and they mentally struggle,” Glavine says. “They struggle because they want that [MLB validation] so bad. And when it doesn’t happen, they’re shattered a little bit. With Alex I never sensed that. I think he’s just put it behind him.”
Maybe Lane has been able to embrace the opportunity this season at Northeastern (as opposed to dwelling on the draft) because of the team culture established by Glavine and his leading players over the years.
“The culture here fits what I wanted,” says Lane, who transferred from Bryant University in 2022. “You’ve got to show up each day and earn everything, work hard for everything, which is big for me. Our team motto is ‘nothing comes easy for us’ and that’s how we go about our business.”
Lane is looking forward to the Huskies’ annual spring training game in Florida against the Boston Red Sox (Feb. 21) as well as four-game series at Hawaii (Feb. 28-March 3) and San Diego State (March 6-9). He says the ultimate goal is a CAA title and a third NCAA tournament bid in five years.
“We play great schools and we beat them — we’ve had four great years in a row here,” Lane says of Northeastern’s ongoing streak of 30 or more wins. “What’s not to like?”