The Angels have signed lefty reliever Rob Kaminsky to a minor league contract, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The deal gives the Halos a no-risk depth option for their bullpen.
Kaminsky began his career in the Cardinals’ system. He was drafted by St. Louis in the first round back in 2013 and was traded to Cleveland two years later in a deal for Brandon Moss. Kaminsky worked his way up to Triple-A with Cleveland in 2019 before electing minor league free agency. He went back to the Cardinals on a non-roster pact during the pandemic season. Kaminsky appeared in five games in the Majors in 2020, allowing one earned run in 4 2/3 innings and recording three strikeouts. Those are his only big league appearances as of now.
Kaminsky spent 2021 in the Phillies’ system, then 2022-24 with the Mariners. He returned to the Cardinals’ system once more in 2025 but only threw four innings across two levels. Apart from that, Kaminsky also pitched in the independent American League in 2024-25 as well as the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and 2026. He doesn’t strike out many hitters, but he has posted groundball rates in the 50-60% range at most levels in the minors. Kaminsky has well-below-average velocity, running a 90.1 MPH four-seamer in 2024. Given that limitation, if Kaminsky eventually returns to the Majors, his ability to induce grounders will be the key to his success.
For the Angels, there is zero risk in bringing Kaminsky into the organization as a depth flier. The club’s bullpen is one of the worst in the Majors with a 5.42 combined ERA. Jordan Romano was the nominal closer before being released and signing with the Rockies on a minors pact. Among the remaining arms, Ryan Zeferjahn is arguably the most valuable. He has a 4.58 ERA in 19 2/3 innings, though his 2.14 xERA and 2.72 FIP suggest he’s due for positive regression. Brent Suter and Sam Bachman both have ERAs under 4.00, as well as groundball rates over 50%. Kaminsky fits into the latter mold as a groundball specialist. It wouldn’t be totally out of the blue to see him called up at some point by the rebuilding Angels.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images
