The Cardinals have signed left-handed pitcher for the 2025 season, marking his third stint with the organization and his 12th year in professional baseball.
Originally drafted by St. Louis as the 28th overall pick in 2013, Kaminsky made an immediate impact despite his young age, debuting at 18. Over his first three seasons in the Cardinals’ system, he logged 217 1/3 innings across Rookie ball and High-A, posting an impressive 2.15 ERA and 2.90 FIP.
In 2015, St. Louis traded Rob Kaminsky to Cleveland at the deadline in exchange for Brandon Moss. Following the move, he began to struggle, and concerns arose about his long-term viability as a starter. After missing nearly the entire 2017 season due to injury, he transitioned to a bullpen role in 2018 and 2019, compiling a 3.31 ERA and 4.01 FIP over 84 1/3 innings. However, he had fallen off top prospect lists by then and entered free agency after 2019.
Kaminsky returned to the Cardinals on a minor league deal that offseason and made his MLB debut in 2020, pitching 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts, two walks, and three runs allowed (only one earned). Despite decent results, he was designated for assignment after just five appearances in September and has not pitched in the majors since.
Between 2021 and 2024, Kaminsky played for the Phillies, Mariners, and the Atlantic League’s Staten Island FerryHawks before rejoining Seattle. Injuries hampered his performance, but he did make eight starts for Triple-A Tacoma in 2024—the most in a season since 2016. While he is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, he provides the Cardinals with left-handed depth in both the bullpen and possibly the rotation. A return to St. Louis could offer him a fresh opportunity to work his way back to the majors in 2025.