Des Moines, Iowa - Prep Baseball Iowa is proud to announce that Tyler Cropley will be stepping into the role of Assistant State Director. A native Iowan with a decorated playing career and deep roots in the game, Cropley brings a wealth of experience, passion, and perspective to this new position.

“This has been a long time coming and I couldn’t be more excited about Tyler joining Prep Baseball Iowa,” said Prep Baseball’s Upper Midwest Supervisor, Rob Allison. “I was fortunate enough to recruit Tyler to Iowa Western, be able to know him as a player and a person, and follow everything he has done and accomplished in the game of baseball. His experience and ability to communicate is off the charts and he immediately makes us better with what we already do at a high level.”

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Cropley began his baseball journey at Westside Little League before playing travel baseball with the Siouxland Stars. He went on to star at Bishop Heelan High School, where he was a three-time All-State selection in baseball and helped lead the football team to a state championship in 2013. That same year, he set school records for doubles in a season (20) and career RBIs (142).

Following high school, Cropley continued his career at Iowa Western Community College. During his sophomore year, he was named to the All-Region First Team after batting .403 with five home runs, nine doubles, 27 RBIs, and 35 runs scored. In his two seasons at Iowa Western, the team compiled an impressive 106-22 record and made back-to-back trips to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Cropley then transferred to the University of Iowa, where he had a standout senior season. He led the Hawkeyes with a .342 batting average, 20 doubles, nine home runs, 50 RBIs, and 43 runs scored. His performance earned him First Team All-Big Ten honors, Second Team All-American recognition from Collegiate Baseball, and a semifinalist nod for the Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher.

In 2018, Cropley was selected in the eighth round of the MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals—becoming the first Hawkeye catcher to be drafted in the top eight rounds since 1972. After a season with Low-A Hagerstown, he was released during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Later that year, the Kansas City Royals signed him to a minor league contract. Cropley spent three seasons with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals before making his Major League debut on September 19, 2023, recording both his first hit and RBI in the same game.

After retiring from professional baseball, Cropley returned to Iowa City to complete his undergraduate degree and joined Rick Heller’s coaching staff at the University of Iowa. Initially serving as a student assistant, he later took on the role of Director of Programs and Player Strategies.

Cropley's commitment to the sport and his desire to give back to the community that shaped his development are the driving forces behind this next chapter. “Helping the next generation get an opportunity to play at the next level is something I’m passionate about,” said Cropley. “My experiences at various levels of the game have given me a unique perspective on player development and evaluation—something I’m excited to bring to Prep Baseball Iowa.”

Please join us in welcoming Tyler Cropley to the Prep Baseball family as he helps lead the next wave of Iowa talent to new heights.

You can follow Tyler on X at: @TylerCropley.