Recently named a second-team NCAA Division I All-American by Collegiate Baseball, UCA pitcher Tyler Cleveland cannot stop adding to his title collection.
As a freshman last season, Cleveland was named an All-American by Collegiate Baseball and was a third-team All-American.
Last month, Cleveland was named the ASUN Pitcher of the Year with his 7-2 record, 2.93 earned-run average, and leading with 101 strikeouts, which was best in the league, according to ucasports.com.
“Winning these titles is very humbling and exciting no doubt,” Cleveland said. “I wouldn’t be able to have these awards without the coaches that train me to be the best version of myself. I also couldn’t do it without the support and love my teammates have for me. I for sure wouldn’t have had the success I had without somebody like Noah Argenta (my catcher for the whole year). He made my job very easy this year and helped me out a lot. These awards are awesome and I’m happy to be able to be honored around some guys like the people I was recognized with.”
Titled as the Southland Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2021, Cleveland made UCA history after only two complete seasons, with 192 career strikeouts at the time.
“I take a lot of pride in trying to be the best athlete on the field at all times,” Cleveland said.
Cleveland explained the best award he has received is “probably my Conference pitcher of the year in the ASUN or the NCAA 2nd Team All-American award as a starting pitcher.”
He said this was “ because there are a large number of athletes in that category and I was in the top 20 or so starting pitchers in the country based on my stats from this year. It’s a unique honor and I’ve been blessed to be selected to that team twice now.”
Continuing to win titles comes with a heavy practice schedule, even for an All-American player.
Cleveland explained that his practice schedule is “usually an hour and a half to two hours a day. The first segment is early in the morning with a workout lift that takes about an hour and then it is followed up by a warmup, then throwing to 90ft to long toss and then post throwing workout routine for recovery.”
Cleveland’s favorite techniques in baseball are “just focusing on the simple things like training my body to rotate laterally to help maximize my side arm throwing, I work a lot on extension and finishing every pitch that I throw as well as trying to be the most explosive I can be.”
As Cleveland goes into his next year at UCA, his plans are beginning to expand, just like his awarded titles.
“My next goal is to get drafted and play professional baseball with an organization that wants me,” Cleveland said. “I’ve had some draft workouts and have some interest from teams to select me. In 5 years, I hope to be pitching at the MLB level and having a successful career. All in all, I just want to leave a legacy at wherever I am and I hope I can impact people’s lives off the field and build lifelong connections.”
Cleveland stated that his overall goal would be to “have a successful family and have a good life when I all settle down, whenever that may be.”