Cleveland Indians Acquire Intriguing Rob Kaminsky
By David Hill
During the trade deadline, there are always moves that leave baseball experts scratching their heads. Typically, this involves a team giving up a highly regarded prospect for a player who, while they may be an upgrade, would be considered somewhat of a fringe player at best. That is seemingly what happened last night when the Cleveland Indians traded Brandon Moss to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league pitcher Rob Kaminsky.
While the Cardinals needed a bat to offset the losses of Matt Holliday and Matt Adams, trading Kaminsky was quite the hefty price. A first round pick in 2013 MLB Amateur Draft, Kaminsky was rated as the 88th best prospect according to MLB.com. With a curve that scouts consider to potentially develop into a devastating pitch and a fastball that can hit 95 MPH and a decent change, Kaminsky is certainly an intriguing piece.
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That potential has certainly carried over in his minor league career. While Rob Kaminsky’s 14-10 record may not seem impressive, he has put together a stellar 2.15 ERA and a 1.123 WHiP in his 217.1 innings, striking out 186 batters against 68 walks. This season, Kaminsky had posted a misleading 6-5 record, as he has a 2.09 ERA and a 1.162 WHiP for the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Florida State League. Perhaps even more impressively, Kaminsky has yet to allow a home run this season in 94.2 innings of work.
Naturally, it makes sense that Kaminsky is an extreme ground ball pitcher. This year, when making contact, opponents have hit a ground ball 59.1% of the time, while putting the ball in the air at a mere 21.2% rate. This formula for success could certainly play up at the higher levels, as Kaminsky could potentially neutralize the opposition with his ability to put the ball on the ground.
The biggest question surrounding Kaminsky is what his role will be going forward. At 5’11”, there are a few scouts that seem to think he may be better served in the bullpen. His three quarters arm angle and ground ball rates would lead one to think he could be a weapon, either as a middle reliever or as a setup man, should such a conversion occur. Yet, this thought only fuels Kaminsky’s fire, as he is determined to remain in the rotation.
In exchange for someone who could be considered a fading power hitter in Brandon Moss, the Cleveland Indians received one of the better pitching prospects in baseball with Rob Kaminsky. He could have a bright future ahead of himself, and might be a major part of the Indians next run of success.