Kyle DeGroat planned on coming home to Wallkill for the weekend after his Arizona Complex League (ACL) season ended on Thursday.
As it turns out, the Kansas City Royals had different plans for the hard-throwing pitcher. DeGroat, 19, was promoted by the Royals to the Class A Columbia (S.C.) Fireflies of the Carolina League.
DeGroat will report to Columbia on Sunday. The Fireflies’ season concludes on Sept. 6.
“Our (ACL) manager (Larry Sutton) was talking to the entire team in the clubhouse and staff, and called me and two other players to the front of the room. That’s when he told us we were being promoted,” DeGroat said. “I had no idea, but it feels great. I’m excited and I’m just looking forward to making the most of this opportunity.”
DeGroat is 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA in 46 innings in the GCL this summer, spanning 12 games, including 11 starts. He struck out 41 batters with 16 walks with a fastball that consistently hits 92-93 mph. 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.
The Royals selected DeGroat out of Wallkill High in the 14th round (407th overall) of last July’s MLB draft.
“For me, in Columbia it’s going to be no different,” DeGroat said. “I’m going to take it day-by-day and learn as much as I can from the players and the coaches. I’m going to compete every day and try to help my team win.”