Cardinals Select LHP Rob Kaminsky With 28th Overall Selection In 2013 Draft
St. Joseph's Regional High School Standout Is Two-Time Gatorade New Jersey High School Player Of The Year
The St. Louis Cardinals selected left-handed pitcher Rob Kaminsky of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., with their second pick of the first round (28th overall) in the 2013 first-year player draft.
Kaminsky, a 6-foot, 188 lb. product of St. Joseph's Regional High School in Montvale, N.J., posted a 9-0 record with 118 strikeouts and only five walks in 58 innings pitched this season. He led St. Joseph's to a 29-2 record and the finals of the New Jersey, Non-Public State Tournament, recently striking out 11 batters in a three-hit shutout over St. Peter's Prep in the semi-finals. A two-way player, the switch-hitter was batting .506 with three home runs and 19 RBI.
"Rob has a plus fastball, excellent command, and the best breaking ball of any high school pitcher in the draft," said Cardinals Director of Scouting Dan Kantrovitz. "He has an advanced feel for pitching and above-average makeup. He's somebody we have targeted for a long time and we're excited that he got to us with the 28th pick of the draft."
Kaminsky was a Rawlings first round first team All-America Northeast and named the Gatorade New Jersey High School Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Previous Gatorade New Jersey High School Players of the Year include Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Mike Trout of Millville and Detroit Tigers' right-hander Rick Porcello.