The stat line was more than impressive. Somehow, the stuff might have been even better.
Yes, Cam Caminiti was that good on Friday night.
MLB’s No. 41 prospect carried a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning and racked up a career-high 14 strikeouts to lead High-A Rome past Hub City, 5-2, at Fifth Third Park.
Caminiti outdueled fellow Top 100 prospect Caden Scarborough (TEX No. 2/MLB No. 62), allowing one run across 6 2/3 frames. The 14 punchouts matched Jordan Woods (Royals) and Joel Cruz (Dodgers) for the most in a Minor League game this season.
Caminiti set the tone immediately, striking out the side in the opening frame and racking up 10 of his first 13 outs via the K. The 19-year-old did not allow a hit until the fourth and three in the game. A double and a single to open the seventh set up the lone run Caminiti allowed.
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The 2024 first-rounder was lifted after surrendering a two-out walk and finished the outing throwing 67 of his 96 pitches for strikes. Caminiti’s dominance was on full display from start to finish during a start he recorded a whopping 32 whiffs on 56 swings (57 percent).
The sterling performance marked the eighth time in nine starts the Braves' No. 1 prospect has surrendered two or fewer earned runs. The streak has coincided with the southpaw’s best stretch of 2026, which began in an uneven fashion after strong full-season debut the year before.
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Caminiti lived up to his status as a first-round Draft pick in 2025, posting a 3.09 ERA and a 90/28 K/BB ratio in 70 innings across 17 starts and two Minor League levels. Opponents hit just .229 and managed only five long balls against the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder.
That success didn't immediately translate into the new year. Caminiti carried a 5.16 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP into June, but a two-week break between starts appeared to flip the script. The cousin of 1996 NL MVP Ken Caminiti twirled four scoreless frames against Bowling Green on June 11, kicking off a run that has lowered his ERA to 3.89, the lowest it’s been since April 16.
The turnaround has coincided with Caminiti becoming a more complete pitcher. After working primarily with a fastball and breaking ball last season, he has expanded his arsenal this year, incorporating his two-seamer and changeup far more than a year ago.
What once looked like a concerning start to Caminiti’s season now looks more like an important developmental chapter in his path toward Atlanta. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native hardly resembles the inconsistent hurler of April and May and instead looks every bit the future ace the Braves envisioned.