Rob Kaminsky Stats & Scouting Report

IP	47
ERA	7.66
WHIP	1.87
BB/9	3.26
SO/9	8.62

Full name Robert Harris Kaminsky
Born 09/02/1994 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Saint Joseph Regional
Debut 08/16/2020
Drafted in the 1st round (28th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 (signed for $1,785,300).

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At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Kaminsky is short, but scouts won't call him small. He is put together with a strong frame and big, strong hands. His fastball sits comfortably in the 89-92 mph range and can bump 93-94. His command is solid and scouts like his competitive demeanor, as he isn't afraid to pitch inside. He throws a nasty, downer curveball, a present plus pitch and arguably the best among high school pitchers in the class. He also shows feel for a changeup that projects to be at least average. His height doesn't lend to much projection and can prevent him from pitching in the bottom of the zone, but he is the most advanced arm in the prep class. He didn't give up an earned run for the first five weeks of his season and broke his school's record for career strikeouts in early May. He is committed to North Carolina, but likely won't make it to campus as he is projected to go in the later part of the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Cardinals doubled up on lefthanders in the first round of the 2013 draft, selecting Kaminsky nine picks after top choice Marco Gonzales. Kaminsky spent two years with the Cardinals before they dealt him to the Indians at the 2015 trade deadline for Brandon Moss. Kaminsky spent his first full season with Cleveland at Double-A Akron, where he bounced back from an early-season back injury that sidelined him for three weeks in May to finish fourth in the Eastern League with a 3.28 ERA. Kaminsky returned from his injury physically stronger and with a slightly reworked delivery to help him avoid further back problems in the future. His velocity returned as well as he bounced back to his usual 89-92 mph fastball. Kaminsky has lowered his arm slot as a professional, adding deception, but also changing the shape of his breaking ball. Where it once was a 12-to-6 curveball, it is now more of a hard slurve, though he can manipulate the shape well. His changeup gives him a third serviceable pitch. He earns praise for his cerebral approach and does a good job of pounding the strike zone. Kaminsky will look to carry his second-half momentum into 2017 and is on track to advance to Triple-A Columbus.
The Cardinals selected Marco Gonzales with their first pick in the first round of the 2013 draft, then doubled up on lefties when they grabbed Kaminsky later in the round. He was leading the Florida State League with a 2.09 ERA at high Class A Palm Beach in 2015 when St. Louis dealt him to the Indians for Brandon Moss at the trade deadline. He made two starts for his new organization before going on the disabled list with lower-back tightness. As an amateur, Kaminsky was known for his true 12-to-6 hammer curveball, but he became more of a sinker/slider pitcher as a pro. The Indians want him to get back to throwing his curveball more often. He isn't overpowering and typically pitches with an average fastball for a lefthander, though he occasionally reaches back for more velocity when he needs it. But he earns praise for his cerebral approach and does a good job of pounding the strike zone. Kaminsky is on track to begin 2016 at Double-A Akron. His overall package gives him a good chance to develop into a back-end starter.
During his first visit to Busch Stadium, the New Jersey native made sure he was judged on the depth of his curve instead of the size of his jersey. "I don't think you have to be a certain height to get people out," he said. Kaminsky, a bulldog in a compact frame, passed on a commitment to North Carolina to sign for $1.785 million as a first-round pick in 2013. He had a 0.10 ERA and 126 strikeouts as a high school senior, then logged 100 innings in 2014 as one of the youngest starters in the low Class A Midwest League. Kaminsky's curveball, the pitch that created all those Ks, didn't disappoint as a pro. He raises his finger on it to give it a spike-curve look. His confidence in the deceptive pitch can make him curveball-happy at times--which is why he was asked to feature other pitches at low Class A Peoria. His fastball works around 91 mph, though he can hit 95 with it. He throws from a high three-quarters slot that adds to his offspeed pitches, especially versus righthanders. That overwhelming curve/fastball combo, with movement on the latter, gives some the sense he'll at least be a reliever, but a potential above-average changeup and feistiness hints the small package contains a starter. There's a spot in the high Class A Palm Beach rotation waiting for Kaminsky in 2015, and a cameo at Double-A Springfield is possible.
A strong frame, big hands and a huge curveball belie Kaminsky's frame and made him the 28th overall pick in 2013. He turned down a commitment to North Carolina to sign for $1.785 million. He ended his senior season at St. Joseph Regional High with a 0.10 ERA, 126 strikeouts and the chip on his shoulder that comes with being called undersized his entire career. Kaminsky has a lively fastball that touches 94 mph and ranges from 88-92. He has the makings of an above-average changeup, but it's his sharp curve that ranked No. 1 among high schoolers entering the draft and also tops in the Cardinals system. It misses bats. He can get curveball-happy because of its deceptive, downward break, and he'll have to gain confidence in his fastball, said two evaluators. He throws from a consistent high-three-quarters slot that gives him better success against righties. Kaminsky pitched just 22 innings in his pro debut to save his arm. He'll come into 2014 with an innings limit, but the Cardinals will give him a chance to win a spot in the low Class A Peoria rotation.

Draft Prospects

At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Kaminsky is short, but scouts won't call him small. He is put together with a strong frame and big, strong hands. His fastball sits comfortably in the 89-92 mph range and can bump 93-94. His command is solid and scouts like his competitive demeanor, as he isn't afraid to pitch inside. He throws a nasty, downer curveball, a present plus pitch and arguably the best among high school pitchers in the class. He also shows feel for a changeup that projects to be at least average. His height doesn't lend to much projection and can prevent him from pitching in the bottom of the zone, but he is the most advanced arm in the prep class. He didn't give up an earned run for the first five weeks of his season and broke his school's record for career strikeouts in early May. He is committed to North Carolina, but likely won't make it to campus as he is projected to go in the later part of the first round.

Minor League Top Prospects

During his senior year this spring in New Jersey, Kaminsky didn?t allow an earned run through the first five weeks of the season. After signing with the Cardinals for $1,785,300 as a first-round pick (28th overall), he pitched on a short leash and didn?t allow an earned run through his first 12 GCL innings before getting hit around in his final two starts. Kaminsky isn?t quite 6 feet tall but has a strong build, large hands and the potential for three average or better pitches. His fastball sits at 88-92 mph and touches 94. Even though Kaminsky?s height doesn?t leave much projection or provide great plane to pitch downhill, hitters had trouble lifting the ball against him in the GCL. His best pitch is his curveball, a plus pitch with hard, downer action that ranked among the best breaking pitches in the 2013 high school class. Kaminsky?s changeup is his No. 3 pitch, but he already shows feel for it and it should be at least an average offering.