Josh Kalinowski

Joshua David Kalinowski

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.

• School Indian Hills Community College

• Born December 12, 1976 in Pasco, WA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Josh Kalinowski reached AA.

Kalinowski was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the 33rd round of the 1996 amateur draft as a draft-and-follow. He made his pro debut with the 1997 Portland Rockies, going 0-1 but with a 2.41 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. With the '98 Asheville Tourists, he had a 12-10, 3.92 record and struck out 215 in 172 1/3 innings. He led both the South Atlantic League and Rockies farmhands in strikeouts. Among all minor league pitchers, only Rick Ankiel struck out more hitters. He would hold the record for most whiffs by a Rockies minor leaguer for 13 years, before Edwar Cabrera broke it.

The lefty nearly won a pitching Triple Crown with the 1999 Salem Avalanche at 11-6, 2.11 with 176 K in 162 1/3 innings. He led the Carolina League in ERA and strikeouts but was two wins behind pacesetter Tim Drew; he also led Rockies farmhands in whiffs. Baseball America rated him as the circuit's #10 prospect and he won the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year award. He was second in the minors in ERA behind only Mike Meyers.

After 1999, though, injuries plagued Kalinowski. He only pitched six games for the 2000 Carolina Mudcats (1-3, 6.23). While he pitched regularly for Carolina in '01, he was not back to his former level (7-8, 4.06). Numerous shoulder surgeries kept him off the diamond for the next three years. He returned with the independent Bridgeport Bluefish in 2005, going 4-9 with a 6.94 ERA.

Josh later worked in real estate in Wyoming.

Sources

• 1997-2000 Baseball Almanacs
• Star-Tribune article on Kalinowski