Kyle DeGroat always knew that he would continue his baseball career after graduating from Wallkill High School.

The only question was where.

DeGroat, a right-handed pitcher, initially committed to play at Stony Brook University. However, in October he announced that he had accepted an offer to join the Texas Longhorns instead.

So, that was the plan, at least until the Major League Baseball Draft last week on Tuesday, July 16, when DeGroat was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 14th round with the 407th overall pick.

The recent Wallkill graduate was selected on the third and final day of the draft, having gone through a stressful few days, not knowing where – or if – he would land.

“I was projected way earlier, maybe third to fifth round, by almost every team we talked to,” DeGroat said. “But just the way the board fell, not a lot of calls came through. A lot of college guys went early this year.”

“I was stressed, and kind of frustrated since it didn’t go as planned,” DeGroat added, as he was waiting at home with his parents and siblings to hear his name called.

DeGroat’s extended family was waiting next door at his grandparent’s house to come over and celebrate, but they had to wait an extra day as well.

On the third day of the draft, DeGroat and his agent had spoken with the Royals, but nothing was certain.

“My name popped up on the draft tracker, which is how I found out, which is crazy,” DeGroat explained. “My advisor [Chris Lemonis] was on the phone with the Pirates trying to set something up for a few picks later, and there I went – Kyle DeGroat of Wallkill Senior High School to the Kansas City Royals. I started freaking out, I called my advisor and he didn’t even know what happened.”

Part of the conversation the right-hander had with the Royals was that he just wanted an opportunity to show what he can do.

“I told them, I just want to play,” DeGroat said. “Obviously money was going to be a factor, but I just want to get my foot in the door and prove who I am.”

Once he saw his name selected on the draft board, DeGroat knew what he was going to do.

“I haven’t signed yet, but I plan to once I get down to Arizona,” he said. “I have to wait until I get down there and do my physical and everything, but that’s what I plan on doing.”

He elected to pass on the college baseball experience to jump right into the pros, and will head to the Royals’ complex in Surprise, Arizona this week to make it official.

Throughout a stellar senior season with the Panthers, the right-hander became accustomed to meeting scouts at the field.

“Some of the scouts would get there real early. We had one home game, a 4:15 start, and I always got there early since I had early-release [from school] this year,” DeGroat said. “I would do my stretches and make sure my body was ready to pitch. I’d get there around 2:15, and there would already be two scouts there.”

“My coach or teammates weren’t there yet, but there were two scouts with their chairs already set up,” he added. “They wanted to see how I warmed up, pretty much my every move before a game.”

DeGroat estimated approximately 25-30 scouts at games on a regular basis, which certainly drew attention.

“My teammates heckled me about it,” DeGroat said. “They would joke about who they’re here for. A couple kids who didn’t play would say, ‘Oh, they’re here for me.’ That kind of stuff and making jokes about it.”

Once getting his foot in the door with the Royals, DeGroat will either be assigned to a team, or to rookie camp for the remainder of the 2024 season.

The Royals’ Arizona Complex League rookie-ball team is based out of Surprise, Arizona, while its Single-A affiliate, the Columbia Fireflies, is in South Carolina.

Davenport, Iowa is home to the Royals’ High-A affiliate, the Quad Cities River Bandits, while the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are Kansas City’s Double-A affiliate.

The Omaha Storm Chasers, based out of Nebraska, are the Triple-A affiliate, Kansas City’s final stop before the major leagues.

“My job now is to throw a baseball, which is crazy. I’m soaking it all in and I’m excited for all the next adventures,” DeGroat said. “I’ll be down in Arizona to start, and then going to all the other minor league stadiums. It’s going to be a great experience and I’m looking forward to all of it.”