Royals’ Highest Pick Arrives
Nobody had to wonder if Kyle Snyder had joined the Spokane Indians on Friday, as expected.
Snyder’s 6-foot-8 stature made him conspicuous in an Indians dugout that previously topped out at 6-6.
The tallest Indians, like Snyder, are pitchers who became millionaires during the last few weeks. Snyder, 6-5 Mike MacDougal and 6-6 Jay Gehrke were all first-round selections in the June amateur draft.
Gehrke has three saves, one behind the Northwest League lead. MacDougal, who may start Sunday, and Snyder, still 10 to 14 days away from his first pro action, should help determine whether the Indians can rise from a .500 team to a North Division pennant contender.
“It sounds like we have (a chance), with MacDougal, (second-round selection Brian) Sanches and now me,” Snyder said. “Since pitching and defense win ballgames, we might be able to help them out a little more.”
Snyder was the seventh player selected overall, and the first collegiate pitcher drafted. He just completed his third season at the University of North Carolina, 740 miles from his hometown of Sarasota, Fla.
Snyder left Sarasota’s airport at 6 a.m. PDT Friday. He made Seafirst Stadium about 2 hours before the Indians’ game with Southern Oregon.
MacDougal warmly greeted Snyder soon after his arrival. The college rivals played together last summer for Chatham (Mass.) of the Cape Cod League.
After his senior year at Riverview High, Snyder was selected in the 27th round of the 1996 draft by the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
“I figured I’d take the college route,” Snyder said. “I needed three or four years to mature, physically and between the ears.”
Snyder was 7-5 this spring for the Tar Heels, with a 3.82 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 96-2/3 innings.
The Kansas City Royals used their first draft choice on Snyder. He negotiated one week before signing a $2.1 million bonus.
“I wasn’t going to hold out,” Snyder said. “I wanted to get my career going. I began playing this game because I loved it.”
Snyder’s father, Donald, played for the last Rice University basketball team to win the Southwest Conference title. Kyle gave up basketball, golf and swimming in high school to concentrate on baseball.