Buckeye State Baseball

Player: Alex Kaminsky

Position: Pitcher

Year: Senior

School: Wright State

If this were a most underrated or underappreciated team, Alex Kaminsky would be #1. An anchor in the Wright State rotation, Kaminsky has dazzled in Horizon League play the past two seasons but has yet to garner any honors and subsequently respect around the league.

For us there is no mistaking the talent Kaminsky has. For Horizon League opponents, we’ll hold you in our thoughts. With a chip on his shoulder there is no telling how dominant Kaminsky can be in 2010. A startling thought when you consider how good he already was in 2009.

A four-year letterwinner for his native Fostoria Redman, Kaminsky would travel south to Dayton to play for Coach Rob Cooper and the resurging Wright State Raiders.

In being used right off the bat as a true freshman, Kaminsky started one game, while appearing in nine others, collecting 19.1 total innings. With a 2-0 record, Kaminsky recorded a 7.45 ERA, allowing 23 hits and 16 runs.

A further glance into the numbers would provide precursors to the success Kaminsky would later have. The rookie season saw the righty finish with an opponents batting average of .299, while showing solid command, striking out three for every walk yielded, finished with 15 and five respectively.

With a year of collegiate experience and abundance of potential, Kaminsky would established himself  as one of Wright State’s top pitchers in 2008.

In toeing the rubber during eight starts, 18 appearances in total, Kaminsky’s 3.98 ERA was third best on the team, with a team leading 8-2 record.  The 61.1 innings pitched were second-most among Raider pitchers.

In finishing with a .255 opponents batting average, Kaminsky allowed 62 hits in 243 at-bats.  During his sophomore season Kaminsky would strike out 31 batters while walking 18. As stingy as Kaminsky was in allowing just base hits, extra-base hits were a rarity. Only 16 doubles, and a lone home run was allowed.

The impressive season was see Kaminsky honored as a Jewish Sports Review All-American. As good as it was it, Kaminsky’s performance still wouldn’t show what he was truly capable of.

With another year under the belt, Kaminsky entered 2009 as a proven success, however few expected the dominance that was displayed as a junior.

A staple in the weekend rotation, Kaminsky was used near-exclusively as a starter, opening the lid on 12 games, appearing in relief of just one other. Though the win loss record would take a slight dip to 6-2, the rest of Kaminsky’s resume was stellar.

In 84.2 innings Kaminsky finished with a 2.66 ERA, allowing 25 earned runs. With two complete games to his record, Kaminsky struck out 54, while issuing just nine walks. Opponents once again batted .299 of the Kaminsky.

Yet Kaminsky would see postseason Horizon Leauge honors elude him. More than making up for the slight, in being selected to the All-Horizon League Tournament team, Kaminsky started the Championship Game, once again overwhelming the opposition as Wright State would win the game and earn a trip to the Fort Worth NCAA Regional. The Horizon League Championship Game can be read here, as it made our list of top 9 moments from the 2009 Division I season.

In the NCAA Regional against Texas A&M, the Aggies would be the last and latest to be bewildered by Kaminsky. In 6.2 innings, Texas A&M would scratch out just one run while striking out three times. At season’s end Kaminsky would again be name Jewish Sports Review All-American. 

As Wright State enters 2010 with expectations high, its hard to imagine their ace could receive so little attention. For Kaminsky that doesn’t bother him. The team’s success more than makes up for lost individual glory. Just be careful if you’re an opposing Horizon League player. Kaminsky is capable of putting together a senior season that makes every take notice.