UCA alumnus Tyler Cleveland was drafted into the Major League Baseball team, the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round of the MLB draft.
Tyler began playing baseball competitively at the age of four, he then went on to join a travel team at age eight and that’s where his love for baseball blossomed. From then on he knew he wanted to play the sport professionally and eventually got his wish after working hard to be the best player he could be.
When he got the call from UCA, he knew it was a great opportunity to further his career.
“They saw something in me and I felt like Conway was a great place to be. I always felt like they cared more about myself and my development as a person rather than a baseball player. UCA is a family environment and I was blessed to be a part of that program,” Cleveland said.
While at UCA, Cleveland strived to be the best player and teammate on, and off the field. Baseball coach Nick Harlan said, “He makes everyone around him better… He possesses talent, skill and most importantly character. You need all three consistently to be a pro.”
Each change-up looked similar to the last, consisting of late movements paired with his low arm slot, making him a tough pitcher to hit off of. Harlan said this along with his endurance and high strike percentage made him highly attractive to scouts.
Aside from his talent on the field, Harlan said Cleveland “has a teachable spirit and thinks outside of himself. Humility and confidence combined make him special.”
There were many scouts looking at Cleveland and there was a long negotiating process between interest and money. Cleveland said he wasn’t looking to join any particular team but that he was always interested in playing for the Arkansas Travelers AA team close to home. It worked out that the Seattle Mariners’ AA affiliate happens to be the Arkansas Travelers, and he will get to spend time with family and friends whenever he plays for them.
Cleveland can’t wait to take the field and his first game will be either in February or March. Although he won’t be playing for UCA anymore, he plans to stay in contact with his past coaches and bring everything they taught him into the next leg of his baseball career.
“I plan to implement all the mental training and the hard work I put in through UCA into my next chapter of life. Coach Harlan and I have a great relationship and we feed information to each other and we will continue to do that if I ever need him to give some advice or what not,” Cleveland said. “He is a huge role model to me and has helped me tremendously in my development. He just always tells me to trust my stuff and always be myself.”
Harlan believes Cleveland will give the Mariners “a unique look on the mound. His sidearm delivery and late sinking fastball will be a rare look for pro hitters today. He controls the strike zone with more than one good pitch which gives him the ability to pitch in a variety of roles.”
After completing his time in the minor leagues and making it to the majors, Cleveland plans to start a family with his fiance Colby and provide for them by doing what he loves most. Whether it’s on or off the field, Cleveland also hopes to make a good impact on the people around him and help them grow.
Going back to talent, skill and character, Harlan believes Cleveland will have a long and successful career in baseball if he maintains these aspects, and he looks forward to watching him grow as a person and player.
Cleveland said he would like to thank his family and friends for always supporting him and for all the time, energy and money they poured into him so he could do what he loves.
“I would like to thank the UCA baseball program for the hours the coaches spent on me, the friendships I made with teammates, and the other people who provided us with equipment and made things run smoothly at UCA. There are tons of people who have impacted me and I am so thankful for them,” Cleveland said.
Harlan said, “My hope and prayer is that he leaves this program confident in who he is as a man with a strong value system prepared to navigate through the next season of life with clear focus and purpose.”