Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Cleveland didn’t get much mound time at Central Arkansas until 2021, his third year on campus, becoming the Bears’ closer and saving nine games. He pitched well as a starter in 2022 to close out his college career, and the Mariners took him in the 14th round that July. He actually spent the 2023 season still working as a starter, but a combination of moving to the bullpen and dropping his arm slot even further has helped him get some traction, and he made it to Double-A for the first time in July 2025 before capping things off in the Arizona Fall League.

Nothing Cleveland does is conventional on the mound, and while his mode of operation isn’t the same, his stuff -- and the surprising effectiveness of it -- evokes some Tyler Rogers vibes. Once just a sidearmer, Cleveland has dropped down further to submarine levels, and there’s even more deception with a delivery that has him stepping all the way to the third-base side of the mound while slinging his two-pitch mix back across his body. His fastball hovers around 85 mph but hitters don’t pick it up, his sweepy low-70s slider also misses a fair amount of bats and he was virtually unhittable in 2025 (0.87 ERA, .128 BAA).

Cleveland throws enough strikes with his funk to believe it’s something that could work at the highest level. It might have to be in limited stints, but teams are often seeking out different looks coming out of the 'pen to keep hitters off balance, and Cleveland is as different as they come. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 40 | Slider: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Between redshirting his freshman year at Central Arkansas in 2019 and the pandemic in '20, Cleveland amassed just seven innings over his first two years of college ball. He emerged as the Bears’ closer in 2021, saving nine games and then handled the chance to start in '22 extremely well, posting a 2.93 ERA and impressive 6.3 K/BB ratio. The Mariners took enough notice about how he did it to take him in the 14th round of that summer’s Draft. After spending most of his first full season as a starter for Single-A Modesto, he moved to the bullpen in 2024 and has spent most of the last two seasons with High-A Everett, making it to Double-A for the first time in July of the '25 season.

Cleveland’s mode of operation isn’t typical for a professional pitcher, starter or reliever. His unconventionality starts with a funky submarine delivery, falling off to the third-base side of the mound. He uses it to deliver a pair of offerings that are well-below-average from a velocity standpoint. His fastball sits at 86 mph and he complements it with a big, sweepy 73 mph slider. It’s worked for him at the lower levels, as he struck out 11.1 per nine innings over his two years in Everett.

While he’ll never be confused with a command artist, Cleveland does find the zone enough to be effective in relief stints. Whether it works at the upper levels remains to be seen, but he could provide just enough of a different look to fool big league hitters out in some kind of middle-relief role.

Awards

NWL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove

Year	Team
2023

CAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

CAL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
07/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Tyler Cleveland assigned to Seattle Mariners Prospects.
	01/30/2026	Seattle Mariners invited non-roster RHP Tyler Cleveland to spring training.
	09/10/2025	RHP Tyler Cleveland assigned to Peoria Javelinas.
	07/14/2025	RHP Tyler Cleveland assigned to Arkansas Travelers from Everett AquaSox.
	07/14/2025	Arkansas Travelers activated RHP Tyler Cleveland.
	06/04/2025	Everett AquaSox activated RHP Tyler Cleveland from the 7-day injured list.
	05/20/2025	Everett AquaSox placed RHP Tyler Cleveland on the 7-day injured list.
	03/13/2025	RHP Tyler Cleveland assigned to Seattle Mariners Prospects.
	01/30/2025	Seattle Mariners invited non-roster RHP Tyler Cleveland to spring training.
	05/06/2024	RHP Tyler Cleveland assigned to Everett AquaSox from Modesto Nuts.
	05/06/2024	Everett AquaSox activated RHP Tyler Cleveland.
	05/03/2024	Modesto Nuts sent RHP Tyler Cleveland on a rehab assignment to ACL Mariners.
	05/03/2024	Modesto Nuts sent RHP Tyler Cleveland on a rehab assignment to ACL Mariners.
	04/05/2024	Modesto Nuts placed RHP Tyler Cleveland on the 7-day injured list.
	04/03/2023	RHP Tyler Cleveland assigned to Modesto Nuts from ACL Mariners.
	04/03/2023	Modesto Nuts activated RHP Tyler Cleveland.
	04/03/2023	Modesto Nuts activated RHP Tyler Cleveland.
	03/26/2023	RHP Tyler Cleveland roster status changed by Seattle Mariners.
	12/01/2022	RHP Tyler Cleveland assigned to ACL Mariners.
	07/26/2022	Seattle Mariners signed RHP Tyler Cleveland.