Snyder graduated from Riverview High School in Sarasota, Florida in 1996. While in high school he lettered in baseball, basketball, swimming and golf. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1996 amateur draft but chose to attend UNC-Chapel Hill instead. Snyder played three years for UNC-Chapel Hill, and also played for the Chatham Athletics of the Cape Cod Summer league where he was named the top prospect. In the summer of 1997, Snyder played in the Valley League (wooden-bat league in Virginia for pro prospects) for the Winchester Royals. Kyle's preferred nickname is Big Snyd.