Michael Petite’s baseball journey has carried him from the Sharks to the Seattle Mariners, a leap that began with standout seasons at Miami Dade College and now continues in professional baseball.
The former MDC outfielder was selected by Seattle in the 19th round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, going 580th overall and signing his first professional contract with the organization. Petite is expected to report to the Mariners’ Player Development Complex in Peoria, Arizona, before receiving his first minor league assignment.
For the Florida native, the moment marks another milestone in a rise shaped by steady growth, power at the plate and speed on the bases. At MDC, he developed into one of the nation’s top junior college players. In 2025, he played all 54 games for the Sharks, batting .367 with 61 runs, 41 RBIs, 12 home runs, 14 doubles and 22 stolen bases. Over two seasons, he hit .329 with 109 hits, 21 home runs and 42 stolen bases, showcasing the athleticism and plate discipline that would define his game.
After MDC, Petite carried that momentum to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he helped lead the Rams to the 2026 Atlantic 10 Championship and earned attention as one of D1Baseball’s top MLB Draft prospects.
Petite joins a long line of MDC baseball alumni who have advanced to the professional ranks. The College has had 76 players selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, a list that includes Baseball Hall of Fame members Mike Piazza and Steve Carlton plus standouts such as Bucky Dent, Plácido Polanco, Raúl Ibañez, Alex Fernández, Victor Caratini and Mickey Rivers.