The Cardinals have signed left-handed pitcher Rob Kaminsky to a minor league contract for the 2025 season, the team announced. This will be the 30-year-old’s third stint with the organization and his 12th professional campaign.
Kaminsky first signed with St. Louis in 2013 as the 28th overall pick in the draft. Despite his young age – he made his pro debut at 18 – the southpaw impressed right away. Over his first three years in the Cardinals system, he threw 217 1/3 innings between Rookie ball and High-A, pitching to a 2.15 ERA and 2.90 FIP.
St. Louis traded Kaminsky to Cleveland ahead of the 2015 trade deadline, in exchange for Brandon Moss. It was after the trade that Kaminsky began to struggle, and questions about his ability to stick in the rotation began to arise. Following a 2017 season almost completely lost to injury, he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen in 2018 and ’19, compiling a 3.31 ERA and 4.01 FIP in 84 1/3 innings pitched. While his numbers were solid (if unspectacular), he had largely fallen off of top prospects lists by that time. He elected minor league free agency after the 2019 season.
Kaminsky re-joined the Cardinals on a minor league pact that winter and made his MLB debut the following summer. He pitched 4 2/3 innings in 2020, striking out three and walking two. He gave up three runs, although only one was earned. Despite his serviceable results, the Cardinals DFA’d him after his fifth appearance in September. He has not returned the to major leagues since.
From 2021-24, Kaminsky bounced from the Phillies to the Mariners to the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League and back to the Mariners. He dealt with various injury issues in that time and struggled to make much of an impact when he did take the mound. That being said, it’s worth noting that he made eight starts at Triple-A Tacoma in 2024. It was the first time he had made more than two starts in a season since 2016. Kaminsky is highly unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but he will offer the Cardinals some left-handed depth for the bullpen, and possibly the rotation, too. Perhaps a return to his former club will help him get back on track as he strives to return to the majors in 2025.
I thought they kicked the Kaminsky addiction and then, out of nowhere, a relapse.
Kaminsky is a name from the past.
There must have been some kinda thing the picked up on like maybe perhaps in a medical report only the Cardinals had cause I remember being livid! What top draft pick for strikeout 150 times Brandon Moss? Light up numbers?! What!
Then he derailed and you can read the comments around here to figure out the rest.
Kinda like the Montas deal from OAK to NYY?
Always exciting to bring someone back that you already got rid of twice for being not very good. Yeah minor league depth blah blah blah. Just more of Mo’s signature move….low hanging fruit. They were lucky to get Brandon Moss for this guy and Moss whiffed so much that NO ONE wanted to keep running him out there. Kudos to Kaminsky for still playing the game and never giving up after all these years.
That’s hilarious
He peaked to early… it happens. Beede is another good example
That was my biggest take away from the article. Why on earth were we actively trying to get Brandon Moss?
I remember being pissed off about the trade at the time and hearing people call mo a wash up as early as then. ’15 team might not have lost to the Cubs had he actually got a player
Moss struckout way to much
Interesting how things work out Kaminsky fell apart after that. Kinda like Oscar Mercado
Cardinals are on a roll, keep these ****guys coming.
Like Who Let The Dogs Out?
The Kaminsky Method…
The three years before Cleveland acquired Moss, his wRC+ was 136 with 76 HRs and 145 XBHs.
Thats a lot of production. Thats Vlad, jr…Jose Ramirez…Matt Olson…production.
But as soon as he stepped into Progressive Field and felt the frigid wind blowing in from right field in April, he wanted out. Cleveland granted his wish at the deadline.
He rebounded the next season, hitting 28 homers and 49 XBHs, but his K rate jumped to over 30%.
Kaminsky is an example of the fact that lefties can hang around the fringes for a long time, simply because they throw with their left hands. They don’t even have to be good.
Is Kaminsky part of the ‘youth movement’ or ‘competitive team movement’ or some other type of movement ?
The cheap movement by Billionaire Bill DeWallet.
I call it the “Tanking on purpose movement”
A bowel movement.
All you have to do is throw left handed. Thats it.
Apropos of nothing, we need more Bob’s in MLB
All these years and just one cup of coffee.
This fella is most determined to put off law school as long as he possibly can.
I mean, the Staten Island FerryHawks, for real.
One must admire the commitment to not submit, and kudos to the Cardinals organization for the enabling.
Philadelphia made Kansas City look like dogs!!!
And why wouldn’t they??? Some of Kansas City’s starters hadn’t played in 3 weeks because they set out the last game of the season. Hoping to heal up a lineup seemed like a good idea at the time. But the players lost their timing skills. And that Offensive line was terrible!!! Mahomes got hammered every time he took a snap!!!
I remember Tony LaRussa, with the Cardinals, after they had clinched early. He sat out all of his starters in hopes of resting and healing them up.
That strategy backfired on them and they lost the next series.
That same philosophy backfired on Kansas City.
Why can’t this Leo character get the use of “too” correct? There shouldn’t be a comma before it.