Los Angeles signed left-hander Rob Kaminsky to a minor-league deal, bringing former first-round and Team Israel WBC experience.
An experienced left-hander with a familiar path from top draft pedigree to multiple levels of professional baseball is now in an Angels uniform, after Los Angeles agreed to a minor-league deal with Rob Kaminsky.
The signing, reported Sunday, adds a pitcher who once went in the first round and later developed World Baseball Classic experience with Team Israel. Kaminsky is 31.
Kaminsky’s climb began with the St.. Louis Cardinals, who selected him 28th overall in the 2013 MLB Draft.. Baseball America had him ranked No.. 21 among prospects heading into the draft, and he signed for a $1.785 million bonus.. Instead of accepting a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, he chose to begin his pro career.
In the years leading up to that draft moment, Kaminsky’s standing was already established in high school baseball. He earned Gatorade New Jersey Baseball Player of the Year recognition in both 2012 and 2013, and he was named to the 2012 USA Today All-USA Team.
The early professional returns followed quickly.. In 2013 with the Gulf Coast Cardinals, Kaminsky posted a 3.68 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 22 innings across eight games.. The next season brought a major step forward: with Single-A Peoria in 2014. he went 8-2 with a 1.88 ERA in 18 starts. producing the best ERA among pitchers who threw at least 100 innings in the league.
St.. Louis eventually became a chapter rather than the ending point.. Kaminsky was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in 2015 in exchange for Brandon Moss. after he had ranked as one of the Cardinals’ top prospects.. He finished the 2015 season with a 2.24 ERA, and later added an 11-7 record with a 3.28 ERA in Double-A Akron in 2016.
Injuries changed the arc starting in 2017. Kaminsky was limited by health concerns, and from there he continued to move between Double-A and Triple-A through 2019. During that period, he had a 2.30 ERA stint in Akron and also spent time with Columbus.
His arrival at the major league level came with the Cardinals, making his MLB debut on August 16, 2020. That run, however, was short; later in the same season, he was designated for assignment.
After that turning point, Kaminsky’s career continued in new organizations and at multiple levels.. He spent time within the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners organizations. later played independent ball with the Staten Island FerryHawks. and continued to work his way through pro stops through 2025.
Recent seasons show the wide range of outcomes that often shape a veteran pitcher’s path. He recorded a 7.66 ERA in Triple-A Tacoma in 2024, and in 2025 he logged a 5.60 ERA in 17.2 innings with Staten Island.
Kaminsky’s international resume is an additional element the Angels are bringing in. He pitched for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, giving him experience on a global stage that goes beyond routine club competition.
For Los Angeles. the deal reflects an approach commonly used to supplement depth: adding a left-handed arm with both former first-round background and a track record of adjusting to different levels.. The Angels are not simply counting on one outcome from a past milestone. but on how a pitcher can translate experience—through rehabs. promotions. and reassignments—into a steady role going forward.
Kaminsky’s history also illustrates how development can look uneven even for highly regarded players.. From early dominance in the minors to a major-league opportunity that came in 2020. followed by designation. organizational changes. and time outside MLB. his career has already offered the kind of challenge that can either derail or refine a player’s preparation.
Meanwhile, the WBC experience provides another layer to that refinement. Pitching for Team Israel in 2023 means he has faced opponents in a different competitive structure, which can sharpen decision-making and routine under unfamiliar scouting and game-planning.
For fans. the most immediate question will be how quickly Kaminsky can translate his most recent work into consistent results within the Angels system.. With a minor-league contract. the opportunity is there to earn innings. reestablish command. and demonstrate that the performance stretches of his career can align again at a professional level close to the majors—starting now with Los Angeles.
Rob Kaminsky Los Angeles Angels minor league deal MLB Draft WBC experience Team Israel left-handed pitcher