Former Wallkill ace Kyle DeGroat is spending this summer working on his pitching – and his Spanish.

DeGroat, 19, is assigned to the Kansas City Royals’ Arizona Complex League (ACL) affiliate. Most of the players are from Latin America and don’t speak English, leaving DeGroat to perfect his slider and how to ask his teammates if they want to go out to dinner after games in Spanish (Quieres salir a cenar?)

“It’s been a lot of fun and I have learned a lot about myself and baseball,” said DeGroat, a hard-throwing righty. “I am happy where I am, pursuing my dream of playing pro ball. Some days are tough, but I try to make the best out of every situation and compete the best I can for my teammates. Learning a new language has been fun and challenging on and off the field. But I have enjoyed it and I know it makes life easier for my teammates as well.”

DeGroat is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in 31 innings in the GCL this summer, spanning 11 games, including 10 starts. He has struck out 40 batters with 16 walks. The ACL is a rookie-level minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix. ACL teams play at the minor league spring training complexes of their parent Major League Baseball clubs.

DeGroat hopes to get a promotion to Single-A this summer, but is content with developing his pitching repertoire, which includes a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. He consistently hits 92-93 mph on his fastball.

“It’s been fun watching Kyle,” Wallkill baseball coach T.D. Mills said. “I know he is living his dream and working hard. Kyle is a constant workhorse, and he does everything he can to improve. We talk after every one of his starts, and if he stays the course, I hope to watch him in the big leagues someday. Kyle works so hard, and everything he gets, he deserves.”

DeGroat, who had a 0.60 ERA with 102 strikeouts as a senior at Wallkill, had verbally committed to play at the University of Texas. However, the Royals selected him in the 14th round (407th overall) of last July’s MLB draft. DeGroat opted to start his pro career, signing for approximately $350,000, according to Baseball America.

“I think I made the right decision,” DeGroat said. “I did what I wanted, I started my pro career, and I’m becoming an adult. I love the guys here. We are a family, and I have already built some really special relationships with the Royals. This is where I want to be, and I am very happy.”