Drafted in the 23rd round (682nd overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2005.
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A 43rd-round choice of the Blue Jays in 2000 out of high school in Mississauga, Ontario, Kniginyzky took a circuitous route to the Royals. He pitched at Lake City (Fla.) Community College and at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College (where he came down with elbow tendinitis) before transferring to High Point University. After two years as a starter for the Panthers, he found his niche in the bullpen last spring. When Kansas City took him in the 23rd round, he became the first player drafted out of High Point since 1991. At 6-foot- 5, he gets an excellent downhill plane on a 90-94 mph fastball and also throws a hard curveball. He rarely uses his changeup in games, though it does have some potential. His key will be repeating his delivery. At different times, he'll throw across his body, fly open or drop his arm slot. The Royals may use him as a starter in low Class A this year to get him more innings, but they project him as a late-inning reliever.
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