Kenny Rosenberg

Kenny Rosenberg
Rosenberg with the Angels in 2024
Kiwoom Heroes
Pitcher
Born: (1995-07-09) July 9, 1995 (age 29)
Mill Valley, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 18, 2022, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record2–3
Earned run average4.66
Strikeouts54
Teams

Kenneth Walter Rosenberg (born July 9, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels. He played college baseball at California State University, Northridge, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 8th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Angels in 2022.

Amateur career

Rosenberg was born in Mill Valley, California, a small town north of San Francisco, later lived in Santa Clarita, California, and is Jewish.[1][2][3][4] He attended Tamalpais High School, where he was an All-MCAL First Team pitcher and first baseman in baseball in 2013, as well as an All-League goalkeeper in soccer.[5][6][7] As a senior, on the mound Rosenberg had 75 strikeouts in 49 innings, with two shutouts.[6]

He then attended California State University, Northridge, majoring in journalism.[7][6] In his sophomore season in 2016, he posted a 6–1 record with a 3.21 earned run average (ERA) and led the Big West Conference with 118 strikeouts (in 109 innings), ahead of eventual Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, as he held batters to a .198 batting average.[8][9] He was named Big West Conference All-Academic Team.[6]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Rays

Rosenberg was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 8th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[7] In 2016, between the Rookie GCL Rays and Princeton Rays, he went 1–2 with a 2.54 ERA, with 33 strikeouts in 28.1 innings.[7]

In 2017, Rosenberg pitched for the Single–A Bowling Green Hot Rods.[7] He went 7-7 with one save and a 4.28 ERA, and his 133 strikeouts ranked third in the Midwest League and fourth in the Rays organization, as he had 10.5 strikeouts per 9 innings.[7][10]

In 2018, Rosenberg pitched for the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Single–A Florida State League.[7] He went 11-2 with a 4.86 ERA, as his 11 wins ranked third in the league, his 106 strikeouts were sixth, and his .846 winning percentage was eighth.[11]

In 2019, Rosenberg pitched primarily for the Double A Montgomery Biscuits, also pitching in one game for the Triple A Durham Bulls.[12] He went 11-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 25 games (16 starts) for Montgomery, and was named a midseason Southern League All Star.[12] He tied for the league lead in wins, ranked fourth in ERA, and ninth in strikeouts with 108.[12][13] His aggregate 114 strikeouts were third among Rays minor leaguers.[12] Rosenberg did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

The Rays invited Rosenberg to spring training in 2021.[15] He split the 2021 season between the FCL Rays, Montgomery, and Durham, going a combined 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 59 strikeouts over 41.2 innings (12.7 strikeouts per 9 innings).[16]

Los Angeles Angels

2022

On December 8, 2021, Rosenberg was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 8th pick in the minor league phase of the 2021 Rule 5 draft.[17]

Rosenberg opened the 2022 season with the Salt Lake Bees. On April 18, 2022, the Angels selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[18] He made his MLB debut that day, surrendering a run in relief against the Houston Astros while striking out two.[19] The following day, the Angels optioned Rosenberg back to Salt Lake.[20] Rosenberg was recalled by the Angels on May 31 and made his second career major league appearance that day, throwing 99 pitches in 5 innings of relief against the New York Yankees.[21] On June 19, Rosenberg made his first career start, pitching 4+2⁄3 scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners.[22] In 2022 with the Salt Lake Bees, he was 2-5 with a 3.16 ERA (tied for 9th in the PCL) in 14 games (13 starts) covering 62.2 innings in which he struck out 60 batters.[16][23]

On December 12, 2022, Rosenberg was designated for assignment following the signing of Justin Garza.[24] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Salt Lake on December 19.[25]

2023

In 20 starts for Triple–A Salt Lake in 2023, he posted a 7–7 record and 4.95 ERA with 120 strikeouts (6th in the Pacific Coast League) in 100.0 innings of work (10.8 strikeouts per 9 innings; leading all pitchers who pitched 80 or more innings).[16][26] On August 5, 2023, the Angels selected Rosenberg's contract, adding him to the major league roster.[27]

With the Angels in 2023, Rosenberg was 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA, as in 33 innings he struck out 29 batters.[16] He mostly threw a 91 mph four-seam fastball and an 82 mph change-up, along with an 83 mph slider and a 77 mph curveball.[28]

2024

Rosenberg was optioned to Triple–A Salt Lake to begin the 2024 season.[29] With Salt Lake, he was 9-7 with a 4.21 ERA in 21 starts (one complete game; tying for league lead) covering 115.1 innings.[7] His nine wins tied for fourth in the league.[7] With the Angels he was 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in seven games (one start) in which he pitched 24 innings.[7] He was released on November 4, 2024.[30]

Kiwoom Heroes

On November 25, 2024, Rosenberg signed an $800,000 contract with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Interview: Small Town Boy, Big League Aspirations – Kenny Rosenberg". February 12, 2020.
  2. ^ Dreier, Peter (March 31, 2021). "Here is baseball's all-star all-Jewish lineup of all time". The Jewish News of Northern California.
  3. ^ "Tam High grad Rosenberg selected in eighth round of baseball draft by Tampa Bay". Marin Independent Journal. June 16, 2016.
  4. ^ "Kenny Rosenberg Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com.
  5. ^ "MCAL Baseball". Marin County Athletic League.
  6. ^ a b c d "Kenny Rosenberg - 2016 - Baseball". CSUN Athletics.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Kenny Rosenberg College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "2016 Big West Conference Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "Kenny Rosenberg Selected in the Eighth Round of the MLB Draft". CSUN Athletics. June 10, 2016.
  10. ^ "Stone Crabs Announce 2018 Opening Day Roster". OurSports Central. April 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "2018 Florida State League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ a b c d "Rays agree to terms with four players for 2021". MLB.com. January 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "2019 Southern League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  14. ^ David Adler. "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Marc Topkin (February 14, 2021). "Rays spring training: What you need to know". Tampa Bay Times.
  16. ^ a b c d "Kenny Rosenberg College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (December 8, 2021). "Rule 5 Draft results, pick by pick". MLB.com. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  18. ^ Fletcher, Jeff (April 18, 2022). "Angels encouraged by further tests on Mike Trout's hand". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  19. ^ "Angels at Astros Box Score". ESPN. April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  20. ^ @LAAngelsPR (April 19, 2022). "The Angels have made the following roster moves..." (Tweet). Retrieved April 20, 2022 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Angels' Kenny Rosenberg: Mops up in blowout loss". CBSSports.com. Paramount Global. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (June 19, 2022). "Blazing hot Trout has record-setting weekend". MLB.com. Lefty Kenny Rosenberg threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his first Major League start on Sunday
  23. ^ "2022 Pacific Coast League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  24. ^ Darragh McDonald (December 19, 2022). "Angels Sign Justin Garza, Designate Kenny Rosenberg". MLB Trade Rumors.
  25. ^ "Angels' Kenny Rosenberg: Clears waivers". CBS Sports. December 19, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  26. ^ "2023 Pacific Coast League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  27. ^ "Angels' Kenny Rosenberg: Called up to majors". CBS Sports. August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  28. ^ "Player Card: Kenny Rosenberg". Brooks Baseball.
  29. ^ "Angels' Kenny Rosenberg: Optioned to Triple-A". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  30. ^ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/angels-select-scott-kingery-release-kenny-rosenberg.html
  31. ^ "KBO's Kiwoom Heroes Sign Kenny Rosenberg". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.