Former Iowa Western college baseball player appears on 20th season of 'The Bachelorette'

Caleb Balgaard went from Iowa Western Community College baseball diamonds to "The Bachelorette" mansion.

"Caleb B," as he is known on this season of "The Bachelorette," played his freshman season of college baseball at the Council Bluffs-based community college. Now, Balgaard is one of 25 potential suitors on Charity Lawson's season of the rose-filled reality TV competition on ABC.

Following his freshman 2018-19 season at Iowa Western Community College, Balgaard played baseball at McClennan Community College in Waco before his time at the Mobile-based University of South Alabama.

Lawson, a 27-year-old child and family therapist from Columbus, Georgia, was a contestant alongside Iowa native Mercedes Northup on Zach Shallcross' recent season of "The Bachelor" before becoming the franchise's leading lady.

Balgaard, who is originally from Michigan, now works as a professional wrestler known as "Kale Dixon" in the WWE NXT program, which features the "next generation" of wrestling phenoms, according to the company's website. Although the first two eliminations have occurred, Caleb B. is still in the running for Charity's final rose so far.

Balgaard is latest 'Bachelor' franchise contestant with Iowa ties

Balgaard isn't the sole rose recipient with ties to Iowa.

Northup was the most recent contestant from the state to appear on the franchise while Kelsey Weier, who was Miss Iowa USA in 2017, appeared on Peter Weber’s season of “The Bachelor” in 2020. Northeast Iowa farmer Chris Soules was named the leading man of his own season in 2015 after appearing as a suitor on “The Bachelorette," and Derek Peth, who originally hails from Waverly, was a contestant during JoJo Fletcher’s season in 2016.

Koy Schneiter, a Season 19 hopeful from Waukee, was set to appear as a suitor on Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey’s shared season of “The Bachelorette,” but did not make the final roster of contestants.

How to watch this season of 'The Bachelorette'

To see if Caleb B. hits a home run with Charity, watch "The Bachelorette" and its 20th season on Mondays on ABC at 8 p.m.

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow him on Instagram or reach out at jstahl@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former Iowa Western baseball player a contestant on 'The Bachelorette'