Down on the farm with Rockies pitching prospect Jace Kaminska
The city of Fresno is an agricultural powerhouse, so it's only right that one of their best pitchers grew up and still lives on a ranch.
At the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, a region known for agriculture, is the city of Fresno, home of the Colorado Rockies High-A affiliate Grizzlies. For years, the Grizzlies have paid homage to the region’s farming culture through promotions and charity, whether it is their annual Ag Night, the distribution of multiple Farm Grown FFA and 4-H scholarships each year, or when they sport their alternate Fresno Growers uniforms.
It’s only right that one of their best pitchers through the first two months of the 2024 season, Jace Kaminska, grew up and still lives on a ranch.
A native of Coffeyville, KS who grew up in nearby Tyro, Kaminska was selected by the Rockies in the 10th round (292 overall) of last year’s MLB Draft out of the University of Nebraska. Prior to being a star with the Huskers, he was a four-year letterwinner and team captain at Caney Valley High School and was named Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020. He then attended Wichita State in 2021 and 2022.
In his second season in professional baseball, the Tyro Torpedo, as Montgomery County Chronicle editor and publisher Andy Taylor calls him, has tossed 52 innings over 10 starts, accumulating a 3-2 record. He leads the Grizzlies with a 2.08 ERA (min. 20 IP) and 63 strikeouts. The right-hander predominantly features a fastball, breaking ball and a changeup, and has recently worked on developing a slider and cutter.
While Kaminska, the son of a fourth generation farmer, loves baseball, he arguably loves life on the ranch just as much. Each offseason, he returns to Tyro to help his family raise calves and grow nearly 300 acres of hay.
“It's hard work, but I like it,” the 22-year-old said. “I’m involved. It’s a pretty big operation when I’m home. My family, they typically align a lot of the work for when I'm home. Like if we're going to sell on a weekend, it's usually a weekend I'm available… But we get a lot of stuff done.”
The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder can be found hauling hay over his shoulder, operating hay balers and doing all the dirty work involved in keeping cattle healthy and clean.
“It's a good opportunity to check out (from baseball) in a way, too. It reminds you where you came from… Traveling to all these minor league towns, they are typically in bigger cities. While everyone's in a hurry, I'm not. I just think the city people miss out on a lot of life. It’s not bad, but to each their own. I like my little small, slow life. They can have the big and fast over here.”
While Kaminska doesn’t mind flying under the radar in his hometown, he is determined to make his name known in the baseball world.
As of June, Kaminska has yet to crack Colorado’s top prospect rankings on any major website. Perhaps it’s just a testament to the deep pitching depth in the Rockies farm system. According to MLB Pipeline, there are 13 pitchers listed in the organization’s Top 30, including Fresno teammates Jack Mahoney, Jake Madden, Jordy Vargas, Cade Denton and Jackson Cox.
“It’s kind of crazy how people just aren’t really talking about him,” said Grizzlies play-by-play broadcaster Stephen Rice. “He is a gamer each time he takes the mound. Just a really fun guy to watch.”
“I’m just competitive,” Kaminska said. “It’s fun to be around other really good guys.Not in a bad way, but we all want to one-up each other. We’re all pushing each other to be better. And we have a really good pitching coach in (Rolando) Garza.
“I don't even want to say that I’m a bulldog out there, but I'm on the gas all the time. I don't really let up. The only time I'm letting off is if the coach comes and gets me and he takes it from me. I don't really think I get too emotional on the mound, I’m just trying to be an everyday guy.”
It’s a mindset that not only comes from working long hours on a ranch, but from his parents who each played Division 2 college athletics — His mother played softball while his father played baseball.
“Just like anybody, I want to start climbing the ladder, “ Kaminska said. “Yeah I’m a lowkey guy, but the ultimate goal is to climb up and eventually make it to the big leagues. I’m not naive to it. I know that the more people start recognizing me and what I bring, the more of a chance I can make it and give myself a good, comfortable future.”