COD Alum Michael-Alan Stanford Signs Professional Contract with Utica Unicorns

The College of the Desert Athletics Department is proud to announce that former Roadrunner left-handed pitcher Michael-Alan Stanford has signed a professional baseball contract with the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL).

A native of Westlake Village, California, and graduate of Westlake High School, Stanford joined the Roadrunners in 2022 and quickly established himself as one of the cornerstones of College of the Desert's resurgence on the diamond.

As a freshman in 2022, Stanford played a key role in helping the Roadrunners capture their first conference championship in 51 years. He earned First Team All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference honors after appearing in 16 games, making one start while serving primarily as the team's top left-handed reliever.

Among his standout performances that season, Stanford struck out a season-high eight batters over four innings at Imperial Valley on February 15 before delivering one of the most memorable outings of his COD career in the postseason. Facing elimination against Long Beach City College on May 7, Stanford came out of the bullpen and threw 6.1 innings of relief, keeping the Roadrunners in the game and demonstrating the competitiveness that would define his collegiate career.

Stanford built on that success during his sophomore campaign in 2023, transitioning into the starting rotation while once again helping the Roadrunners reach the postseason. He earned Second Team All-Inland Empire Athletic Conference recognition after posting a 5-3 record in 11 starts.

He finished tied for the team lead with five victories, ranked second on the staff with 62 innings pitched and 51 strikeouts, and recorded seven starts of six innings or more. One of his best performances came on February 11 against Irvine Valley, when he struck out eight batters over seven strong innings.

Following his standout career at College of the Desert, Stanford transferred to the University of Utah, where he competed at the NCAA Division I level. During his time with the Utes, Utah improved from a 22-32-1 record in 2023 to 33-22 in 2024, advancing to the Pac-12 Tournament.

"College of the Desert gave me the confidence and preparation I needed to compete at the NCAA Division I level," Stanford said. "Making a run to the conference tournament at Utah alongside such an amazing group of teammates was an unforgettable experience. Looking back, I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities and foundation I received at COD—they helped make everything that followed possible."

Stanford now begins his professional career with the Utica Unicorns, based in Utica, Michigan, just outside Detroit. The Unicorns compete in the United Shore Professional Baseball League, an independent professional league that has become a launching pad for players pursuing careers in affiliated professional baseball.

Stanford's journey, from College of the Desert to NCAA Division I baseball and now the professional ranks, is a testament to his perseverance, work ethic, and commitment to continual growth. His success reflects the opportunities available to student-athletes who embrace the development process at College of the Desert.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Darbie Catalfamo Photography.

The entire Roadrunner family congratulates Michael-Alan Stanford on this well-earned accomplishment and wishes him continued success as he begins the next chapter of his baseball career.