Royals Media Relations
The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed 21st-round selection from the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft, catcher Kenny Swab. The Royals have now inked 25 of the club’s 50 selections from last month’s draft. In addition, the Royals have signed 11 non-drafted free agents.
Swab, 22, helped lead the University of Virginia to the College World Series in June where the Cavaliers went 2-2 and were eliminated by eventual champion South Carolina. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher batted .318 with 17 doubles, two triples, one home run, 29 RBI and 44 runs scored in 59 games (56 starts) for Virginia, stealing 11 bases in 12 attempts. A native of Kernersville, N.C., Swab was selected by the Cincinnati Reds out of Young Harris Junior College in the 48th round of the 2009 draft, but chose to attend Virginia. He was also tabbed by the Atlanta Braves in the 35th round in 2010, but elected to return for his senior season.