Kyle Kaminska
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: October 5, 1988
Drafted: 25th round, 766th overall, 2007 (Marlins)
How Acquired: Trade from Marlins
High School: Napierville HS, Napierville, IL
Kaminska is a finesse pitcher who throws an 89-91 mph fastball and a marginal slider. He gets by with good control, enough so that he's generally had excellent K/BB ratios without having high K rates. He's often gotten hit very hard.
R: 1-1-0, 2.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 19.0 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 6.6 K/9
Kaminska had a good debut as a starter in rookie ball, showing good control.
A: 5-7-0, 6.54 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 85.1 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 8.6 K/9
A+: 0-1-0, 7.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 9.0 IP, 2.0 BB/9, 11.0 K/9
The Marlins evidently rushed Kaminska to full season ball too soon, as opponents hit .332 against him in low A and he allowed a HR every six and a half innings.
A+: 9-9-0, 4.16 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 142.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.1 K/9
Kaminska fared a little better in high A, still as a starter.
R: 0-0-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 8.0 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 1.1 K/9
A+: 1-4-0, 3.51 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 48.2 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 6.1 K/9
The Marlins sent Kaminska back to high A, but he spent most of the season on the disabled list.
Kaminska moved primarily to the bullpen and had more success, with a higher K rate and a career low opponents' batting average of .237 between the two levels.
A+ (Pgh): 2-0-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 6.2 K/9
AA (Fla): 6-3-1, 5.11 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 49.1 IP, 1.6 BB/9, 7.7 K/9
AA (Pgh): 1-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 8.2 K/9
AAA (Fla): 0-1-0, 6.23 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 4.1 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 4.2 K/9
At the time he was traded to the Pirates, Kaminska had been struggling throughout the year. Opponents were hitting .328 against him, with a HR once every five and a half innings. The Pirates sent him to Bradenton, where he pitched well in three starts, as you'd expect from a pitcher with his experience. He moved up to Altoona at the end of the season and made four appearances, including one start. He pitched well there, too.
When the Pirates acquired him, Kaminska looked more like minor league depth than a prospect. He pitched well after the trade, but his time with the Pirates was too brief to draw any conclusions. He did pitch very well in the Arizona Fall League in 2012, which led to a lot of speculation that he would or should be placed on the 40-man roster. He wasn't, and given his stuff and his unimpressive track record, it's hard to see anybody selecting him. He'll probably return to Altoona in 2013.
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
June 8, 2007: Drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 25th round, 766th overall pick.
July 31, 2012: Traded by the Florida Marlins with Gaby Sanchez to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Gorkys Hernandez and a competitive balance lottery pick.