Tyler Cropley
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Tyler Cropley
|position=Catcher
|team=Iowa Hawkeyes
|number=
|image=Tyler Cropley triple-A debut (53190583210).jpg
|caption=Cropley with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2023
|width=250
|birth_date={{bda|1995|12|10}}
|birth_place=Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 19
|debutyear = 2023
|debutteam = Kansas City Royals
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate = September 23
|finalyear = 2023
|finalteam = Kansas City Royals
|statleague = MLB
|statyear =
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .167
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 0
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 1
|teams=
- Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2023}})
}}
Tyler Cropley (born December 10, 1995) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals during the 2023 season.
Career
=Amateur=
Cropley graduated from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in Sioux City, Iowa, in 2014. He played college baseball at Iowa Western Community College and the University of Iowa.{{Cite web|url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/on-the-mound-or-behind-the-plate-tyler-cropley-is-hoping-for-opportunity-in-2022/article_b6a5ff40-a490-5ea6-9a21-b435e38fbcbf.html|title=On the mound or behind the plate, Tyler Cropley is hoping for opportunity in 2022|first=Shane |last=Lantz|date=April 16, 2022|website=Sioux City Journal|accessdate=September 9, 2023}} In 2018, while playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Collegiate Baseball named Cropley to their All-American second team.{{Cite web|url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/baseball/college/cropley-earns-all-american-honors/article_280a85d0-e730-5eb8-9962-21e0a9091668.html|title=Cropley earns All-American honors|date=May 31, 2018|website=Sioux City Journal|accessdate=September 9, 2023}}
=Washington Nationals=
The Washington Nationals selected Cropley in the eighth round, with the 251st selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://dailyiowan.com/2018/06/05/washington-nationals-draft-tyler-cropley-in-eighth-round/|title=Washington Nationals draft Tyler Cropley in eighth round|first=Pete|last=Ruden|accessdate=September 9, 2023}} He spent his first professional season split between the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Nationals and Low–A Auburn Doubledays, hitting .310 across 14 games. He spent the 2019 season with the Single–A Hagerstown Suns, hitting .187/.294/.276 with 2 home runs and 8 RBI across 41 games.{{Cite web|title=Tyler Cropley - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/205158/|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}} Cropley did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} On May 29, 2020, Cropley was released by the Nationals.{{Cite web|title=Nats Backtrack from Minors Pay Cut; Releases Revealed|url=https://nationalsprospects.com/2020/06/nats-backtrack-from-minors-pay-cut-releases-revealed/|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=nationalsprospects.com|language=en}}
=Kansas City Royals=
On October 8, 2020, Cropley signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization. He spent the 2021 season with the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, batting .194/.325/.313 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Tyler Cropley Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/15227-tyler-cropley/|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}} Cropley returned to Northwest Arkansas in 2022, also playing in 3 games for the Single–A Columbia Fireflies and 2 games for the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Royals. In 31 games for the Naturals, he hit .163/.262/.283 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Tyler Cropley - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/tyler-cropley/sa3007510/stats?position=C|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}
Cropley returned to Northwest Arkansas for a third season in 2023. In 43 games, he hit .235/.329/.359 with career–highs in home runs (4) and RBI (17).{{Cite web|title=Royals call up catcher Tyler Cropley, Brad Keller returns|url=https://www.royalsreview.com/2023/9/9/23865807/royals-call-up-catcher-tyler-cropley-brad-keller-returns|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=royalsreview.com|language=en}} On September 9, 2023, Cropley was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-injuries-and-roster-moves|title=Injuries & Moves: Keller reinstated, Cropley called up; Fermin, Cox to IL|website=MLB.com|accessdate=September 9, 2023}} The promotion was made after backup catcher Freddy Fermín was placed on the injured list with a finger fracture.{{Cite web|title=Royals' Tyler Cropley: Earns first career call-up|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-tyler-cropley-earns-first-career-call-up/amp/|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Cropley did not make an appearance for the Royals before he was designated for assignment on September 11.{{Cite web|title=Royals' Tyler Cropley: Designated for assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-tyler-cropley-designated-for-assignment/amp/|access-date=September 12, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers on September 13.{{Cite web|title=Royals Outright Tyler Cropley|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/09/royals-designate-tyler-cropley-for-assignment.html|access-date=September 13, 2023|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} On September 18, Cropley was selected back to the major league roster after Salvador Pérez suffered a concussion.{{Cite web|title=Royals Select Tyler Cropley|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/09/royals-select-tyler-cropley.html|access-date=September 18, 2023|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} In two games for the Royals, he went 1–for–6 (.167) with one RBI. Following the season on October 24, Cropley was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Omaha.{{Cite web|title=Royals' Tyler Cropley: Sent outright to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-tyler-cropley-sent-outright-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=October 25, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He was released by the Royals organization on March 27, 2024.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-03-27
=Coaching=
Cropley joined the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball staff on August 27, 2024, as a student assistant coach.{{cite news |last1=Harty |first1=Pat |title=Iowa baseball adds former Hawkeyes Tyler Cropley, Wes Obermueller to coaching staff |url=https://hawkfanatic.com/2024/08/27/iowa-baseball-adds-former-hawkeyes-tyler-cropley-wes-obermueller-to-coaching-staff/ |access-date=April 25, 2025 |work=Hawk Fanatic |date=August 27, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=680418|espn=4228554|br=c/croplty01|fangraphs=24485|brm=crople000tyl|retro=C/Pcropt001}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cropley, Tyler}}
Category:Baseball players from Sioux City, Iowa
Category:Major League Baseball catchers
Category:Kansas City Royals players
Category:Iowa Western Reivers baseball players
Category:Iowa Hawkeyes baseball players
Category:Gulf Coast Nationals players
Category:Auburn Doubledays players
Category:Hagerstown Suns players
Category:Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Category:Arizona Complex League Royals players
Category:Columbia Fireflies players