Kansas City Royals
On October 8,2020,Cropley signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization. [1] He spent the 2021 season with the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals,batting .194/.325/.313 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI. [7] Cropley returned to Northwest Arkansas in 2022,also playing in 3 games for the Single–A Columbia Fireflies and 2 games for the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Royals. In 31 games for the Naturals,he hit .163/.262/.283 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI. [8]
Cropley returned to Northwest Arkansas for a third season in 2023. In 43 games,he hit .235/.329/.359 with career–highs in home runs (4) and RBI (17). [9] On September 9,2023,Cropley was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [10] The promotion was made after backup catcher Freddy Fermín was placed on the injured list with a finger fracture. [11] Cropley did not make an appearance for the Royals before he was designated for assignment on September 11. [12] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers on September 13. [13] On September 18,Cropley was selected back to the major league roster after Salvador Pérez suffered a concussion. [14] In two games for the Royals,he went 1–for–6 (.167) with one RBI. Following the season on October 24,Cropley was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Omaha. [15] He was released by the Royals organization on March 27,2024. [16]
