Angels sign former 1st-round pitcher with WBC experience

The Los Angeles Angels signed left-handed pitcher Rob Kaminsky Sunday to a minor league deal, adding a former first-round pick with Major League Baseball and World Baseball Classic experience.

Kaminsky, 31, was selected 28th overall in the 2013 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals after being ranked the No. 21 prospect by Baseball America. He signed for a $1.785 million bonus, choosing professional baseball over a University of North Carolina scholarship.

At the time of his selection, he was the 12th New Jersey high school player taken in the first round since the draft’s inception in 1965. In high school, Kaminsky earned Gatorade New Jersey Baseball Player of the Year honors in both 2012 and 2013, and was named to the 2012 USA Today All-USA Team.

He began his pro career in 2013 with the Gulf Coast Cardinals, posting a 3.68 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 22 innings over eight games. In 2014 with Single-A Peoria, he went 8-2 with a 1.88 ERA across 18 starts, the best ERA among pitchers with at least 100 innings in the league.

Kaminsky was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in 2015 in exchange for Brandon Moss after ranking as one of St. Louis’ top prospects. He finished with a 2.24 ERA that season and later recorded an 11-7 record with a 3.28 ERA in Double-A Akron in 2016. Injuries limited him in 2017, and he continued bouncing between Double-A and Triple-A through 2019, including a 2.30 ERA stint in Akron and time with Columbus.

He reached the majors with the Cardinals, making his MLB debut on August 16, 2020, before being designated for assignment later that season.

Kaminsky later spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners organizations, independent ball with the Staten Island FerryHawks, and continued to move between levels through 2025. Across recent stops, he logged a 7.66 ERA in Triple-A Tacoma in 2024 and a 5.60 ERA in 17.2 innings with Staten Island in 2025.

Internationally, Kaminsky pitched for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

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