Athletic Spotlight: Tim Kiene ’10

Baseball standout drafted by MLB’s Washington Nationals

By Rob Dowling ’91
Head Coach, varsity baseball

The nine days between May 30th and June 8th were a momentous time for Tim Kiene ’10. He graduated from Avon Old Farms on May 30th and on June 8th, he was drafted by Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals organization.

Like many seniors, Tim felt conflicting emotions during the spring. A four-year student from South Windsor, Conn., Tim had made many close friends on campus, and the spring was a time when he was preparing to transition to the next stage in his life. Tim had committed to attend school and play baseball for the University of Maryland. However, unlike many seniors, this spring Tim needed to manage the constant attention of a professional community.

With each game and practice, most of which were watched closely by representatives from various Major League Baseball teams, Tim was inching closer to realizing a life-long dream. If selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, held from June 7-9, Tim would have the opportunity to sign a contract, delay college, and immediately follow his dream of playing professional baseball.

Despite the pressure, Tim enjoyed a remarkable spring. He finished with excellent grades in school and produced one of the best offensive seasons ever by an Avon baseball player. Under the scrutiny of professional baseball scouts, Tim led the Winged Beavers to a special season in 2010. He was one of the team captains and led the team in batting average, homeruns, and RBI. The team finished with a 17-2 record and captured both the Founders and Colonial League Championships. Tim was named a baseball All-American at the end of the season, and is one of the finalists for the Gatorade Player of the Year.

Not surprisingly, Commencement proved to be an exciting time for Tim and his family; a head dormitory monitor, strong student, excellent citizen, and elite athlete, Tim was recognized during Commencement for his outstanding contributions to the school with the Founder’s Medal, one of the Avon’s highest awards.

More excitement was to follow with the Major League Baseball draft. Early in draft, the Boston Red Sox contacted Tim to negotiate a contract to make him an early round selection, but after much deliberation, Tim declined the offer, as the Red Sox needed an immediate answer.

“I did the toughest thing in the world for a young baseball player,” Tim noted. “I said no to my favorite MLB team. I then had to sit and wait.” Later in the day, the Washington Nationals selected Tim. He was surrounded by his family as he watched his name come up on the computer as the Nationals’ selection. Tim says he was “happier than I have ever been in my entire life” as he shared the moment with his family.

Although playing professional baseball has been a life-long dream for Tim, he plans to honor his commitment and enroll at the University of Maryland to continue his baseball career while working toward a college degree.

In 2013, Tim will again be eligible for the MLB amateur draft. He is the fourth player in the recent Avon baseball history to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft.