Detroit Tigers Sign Kinyoun on 2nd Attempt

Former Royal High catcher Travis Kinyoun, who was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 36th round of the June amateur draft, has signed a contract with the club and will report to the Florida Instructional League in September.

Kinyoun batted .391 last season at Royal with 8 doubles and 16 runs batted in, and batted .340 during the American Legion season. He had intended to play next season at College of the Canyons.

“I heard through the grapevine that he was having a good summer,” said Detroit scout Rick Magnante, who is managing the Tigers’ Appalachian Rookie League affiliate at Bristol, Tenn. “We had another one of our scouts go out and watch him and we decided to make him an offer.”

Kinyoun turned down the Tigers’ initial offer after the draft. He decided to sign after the Tigers guaranteed him a spot in the Instructional League.

“It was hard for me to turn down the first contract offer after I was drafted because I really didn’t want to go to school,” Kinyoun said. “Usually, only the high-round picks get a chance to go to the Instructional League. That was key. That’s what got me to do it.”