BATAVIA — Tyler Prospero has had many stops along his baseball journey. From Notre Dame High School, to Genesee Community College, to Division I Niagara University and then to the Batavia Muckdogs of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, Prospero has worked on his craft at many levels of the game.
Now, the Batavia native is set to embark on another trip of his baseball quest.
Last week, following a solid summer campaign with the Muckdogs, the Notre Dame graduate signed a contract to play for the Williamsport Crosscutters of the MLB Draft League.
The MLB Draft League is a collegiate summer baseball league that began play in 2021. Created by Major League Baseball and Prep Baseball Report, the league serves as a showcase for top draft-eligible prospects leading up to each summer’s MLB draft.
The league’s initial six teams were formerly members of Minor League Baseball’s New York–Penn League, Eastern League, and Carolina League before MLB’s reorganization of the minors for 2021. In 2021, each team in the league played a 68-game regular season, while the season was expanded to 80 games per team beginning with the 2022 season.
“I signed a contract to finish out the season,” Prospero said. “The season has one month left and I expect to see most of my time out of the bullpen with an occasional start. I expect to learn a ton more about the game of baseball and continue to develop my game into a big league candidate.”
This season for the Muckdogs, Prospero appeared in eight games, with seven starts, and finished with a 4-1 record and an ERA of 4.08. He allowed 44 hits and walked eight in 35 1/3 innings pitched, while he struck out 30. Primarily just a starter throughout his life, Prospero has recently began to create some versatility with his pitching, being able to come out of the bullpen as well, especially during his time at Niagara.
It was the ability to do both that had several different outlets beginning to take a look at the right-hander.
“Their interest in me started because of the success I have been able to have at high levels and my ability to start and relieve,” Prospero said/ “They really liked how I performed for the Muckdogs the last two seasons. They liked all my pitches and my durability.”
In the summer of 2021 for Batavia, Prospero appeared in eight games with two starts and finished at 1-1 with an exceptional 2.49 ERA. In 25 1/3 innings pitched, the righty allowed 21 hits and struck out 25 while he walked just five.
This past season at Niagara as a graduate student, Prospero appeared in 13 games out of the bullpen and was 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA. In 13 innings pitched he allowed 18 hits, while he walked 10 and struck out eight.
Now, having pitched at a plethora of different levels, Prospero is excited to take the next step toward the possible dream of pitching in the Majors.
“It was an unreal feeling. I can’t even describe it,” Prospero said of being signed. “Since I was young, my goal has always been to play professional baseball. To be given that opportunity in the MLB Draft League is such a great experience. I want to give a shout out to my family because without them none of this would be possible. My mom has always supported me. My dad has coached me and given me advice and I wouldn’t be where I am today without his knowledge and support. My brother, Tom, has always been there for me. He has been a mentor and a role model and I am very lucky that he shares his baseball knowledge with me.”
The MLB Draft League is the professional development portion of Major League Baseball, which is for players who have exhausted their college eligibility and/or will not be returning to college baseball. The second half of the MLB Draft League runs until Sept. 6 and games will be streamed on the MLB website.
In all, Prospero spent three seasons with the Purple Eagles of Niagara U. after a season at GCC, and in his career with the Purple Eagles he made 22 appearances on the mound and had a 2-0 record. He struck out 25 in 31.2 innings pitched.
After all of his work at the various levels of baseball, Prospero feels he can make an impact at his next stop as well.
“At Niagara, I played against better teams and I really had to be smart with my pitches and hit my spots because if I didn’t, I paid for it,” Prospero said. “Then, going to the Muckdogs games as a little kid and then getting to play for my hometown team has been a dream come true. I learned a lot from the guys on the team because they came from all over the country and shared the knowledge they learned from playing college ball.”
As a senior at Notre Dame Prospero earned a New York State Class D All-State selection when he finished 6-1 on the hill with a 1.46 ERA with 78 strikeouts, 31 hits allowed and just 10 walks in 52 2/3 innings pitched. Prospero set a school record with a .157 opponents batting average against. Prospero also hit .369 with six doubles and a home run.
Now he is primed and ready to make the most of his next chance on the diamond.
“The opportunity represents all my hard work and all the lessons my dad and brother taught me,” Prospero said. “It represents all my hours at the gym and the field. It means the world to me, but I am not complacent at all. I am ready to keep utilizing the baseball skills my dad instilled in me. I am very ready for the next challenge.”
As for what it shows other athletes playing at small schools, like Notre Dame, in high school? Never say never.
“If you have a goal, keep working hard to accomplish it,” Prospero said. “It doesn’t matter what town you are from, being focused and committed is very important.”
In the second half of the MLB Draft season, Williamsport is currently atop the league standings, one game ahead of second place West Virginia, at 10-4. The Crosscutters finished the first half of the season in a tie for third at 20-18.
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