• Six of 18 Jews who played in MLB this season — CF Harrison Bader (Mets), 3B Alex Bregman (Astros), LHP Max Fried (Braves), RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles), RHP Max Lazar (Phillies), and C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) — make it onto a playoff roster, but three fall out when their teams are swept in 2-game Wild Card series. See ‘Jewish Box Score’ for details (10/2/2024)
  • Of 18 Jews who played in MLB this season, five are entering free agency. Impressively, Baseball America ranks all four Jewish position players among the Top 50 position players available for 2025 season. Astros 3B Alex Bregman, who earned $20-million in 2024, ranks #3. He is followed by Diamondbacks DH Joc Pederson ($12.5-million), at #18; Mets CF Harrison Bader ($10.5-million), at #26; and Angels CF Kevin Pillar ($1-million), at #46. The fifth Jewish free agent, Braves LHP Max Fried, earned $10.5-million. What is their market value? Check out Spotrac’s projections here (10/1/2024)
  • Astros fans gave 3B Alex Bregman a standing ovation on September 25 to honor what might prove to be his final home game with team. But if teammate and nine-time All Star 2B Jose Altuve has anything to do with it, Bregman isn’t going anywhere. “I don’t want to think about my last game with Breggy,” Altuve says after team’s season-ending loss. “I’m pretty confident he’s going to be our third baseman next year. We have to. We’re not going to be the same organization without him” (10/2/2024)
  • Cardinals announce that team advisor Chaim Bloom, who previously earned fame as baseball chief for both Red Sox and Rays, will take over as president of baseball operations in 2026 (9/30/2024)
  • Win some, lose some: A 1-1 split in September 30 doubleheader between Braves (LHP Max Fried) and Mets (CF Harrison Bader) earns each team a Wild Card slot in playoffs. Unfortunately for DH Joc Pederson, those wins also knock Diamondbacks out of playoff race (9/30/2024)
  • Up and down: Phillies call-up RHP Max Lazar for playoffs, and Cubs do same with 1B Matt Mervis. Two days earlier, on September 29, Yankees reassign RHP Scott Effross to Triple A (10/1/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) and LHP Max Fried (Braves), whom MLB.com recently deemed 2 of the top 10 free agents this coming offseason, earn standing ovations in what may be their final games at home. Both two-time All Stars have been with same franchise their entire pro careers, and both are finishing 2024 strong, which could enhance their market value. So far in August and September, Bregman has hit .282 (53-for-188) with 12 HRs, 24 RBIs, 10 doubles, and 11 walks. Fried is 3-2 in September, with 2.14 ERA, 0.980 WHIP, and 5.14 times as many strikeouts as walks. Click here for New York Times article on Bregman’s sendoff (9/29/2024)
  • Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros/AAA) beat Omaha Storm Chasers (Roytals/AAA) by 13-6 score to become champion of Triple-A universe, which includes 30 teams. LHP Colton Gordon, the starting pitcher for Space Cowboys, is roughed-up over 3 innings, but teammates provide more than enough runs to win. Click here to watch condensed video of game, and here to read Gordon’s recent interview with Jewish Herald-Voice of Houston (9/28/2024)
  • In other sports: Brigham Young University, led by Jewish quarterback Jake Retzlaff, beats Baylor University 34-28 to maintain perfect 5-0 record. According to Deseret News, Retzlaff wears a Star of David necklace and coined his own nickname, “B-Y-Jew” (9/28/2024)
  • LHP Max Fried (Braves) tosses 8.2 scoreless innings on just 98 pitches in 3-0 win over Royals. Atlanta’s ace yields only 5 base runners, strikes out 9 batters, and picks-off a runner at first base (9/27/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, 1st-inning sac fly, and one RBI in 5-2 win over Guardians (9/27/2024)
  • Yankees recall RHP Scott Effross on September 26. The following day, he tosses 1.1 scoreless innings in 4-2 loss to Pirates, yielding no hits and one walk (9/27/2024)
  • LHP Kenny Rosenberg (Angels) throws 3 scoreless innings in 7-0 loss to lowly White Sox, giving up 4 hits and zero walks while striking out 4 batters (9/26/2024)
  • Pirates won’t be winning Mensch of the Month award anytime soon. With 6 games left in regular season, team designates 1B Rowdy Tellez for assignment. GM Ben Cherington says he based decision on Tellez’s performance. But news outlets both local and national, including The Athletic, suggest a financial motivation. Tellez’s one-year, $3.2-million contract with Pittsburgh provided for $200,000 bonus if veteran reached 425 plate appearances. Early removal from roster left him with 421 plate appearances, four shy of threshold. Tellez went 0-for-4 in his final game, a 2-0 win over Reds on September 22 (9/24/2024)
  • Three Jewish prospects will play in prestigious Arizona Fall League, an off-season league to which MLB teams assign some of their top prospects. Mazel Tov to RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A), who will play for Salt River Rafters, and C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/AA) and 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A), who will will play together for Glendale Desert Dogs (9/25/2024)
  • Sports Illustrated names retired MLB outfielder Gabe Kapler one of 9 candidates the Reds “could consider hiring” to replace fired manager David Bell. In total of 6 seasons managing Phillies or Giants, Kapler — currently serving as Assistant GM of Marlins — amassed 456-411 record, and he “is looked pretty highly upon in the industry” (9/23/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) homers for third game in last 5, a 424-foot solo shot to center field that puts team ahead 1-0 en route to 4-3, division-clinching win over Mariners. (See Bregman’s post-game interview here.) On September 22, Bregman went 3-for-4 with solo shot and 3 RBIs in 9-8 loss to Angels. And on September 20, Bregman went 2-for-5 with 2-run, go-ahead HR and 3 RBIs overall in 9-7 win over Angels. Veteran’s 26 HRs this season are most since 2019, when he hit 41 (9/24/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson opens scoring with 1st-inning double and gets hit by pitch in 6-3 win over Diamondbacks, ending day 1-for-2 before being lifted for pinch-hitter in 7th inning (9/23/2024)
  • C Andy Yerzy (Brewers/AAA) goes 2-for-5 in Triple-A debut, a 12-3 win over Orioles affiliate (9/22/2024)
  • Two Jews homer in Houston’s 9-7 win over Angels. 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-5 with 2-run, go-ahead HR and 3 RBIs overall. On other side of field, CF Kevin Pillar (Angels), playing for first time since coming off injured list, goes 1-for-4 with solo HR and walk. Both veterans also make nifty plays in field (9/20/2024)
  • LHP Max Fried (Braves) dominates Marlins 6-2 in Miami, yielding one earned run and 6 baserunners over 6 innings while fanning 6 batters. Victory leaves Atlanta two games behind Mets in battle for Wild Card slot. Among all MLB pitchers who have thrown at least 800 innings since Fried debuted in 2017, his 3.10 ERA since then ranks #6 (9/21/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) gets team off to 2-0 start with 2-run HR, ending day 1-for-2 before being lifted for pinch hitter in 5th inning of 5-0 win over Pirates. Pederson, whose home run was 23rd, is one of 82 MLB players with 20+ HRs. Among them, his AB/HR ratio (15.4) ranks 13th-best (9/21/2024)
  • Fox Sports rates 1B/2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) a distant 6th in its ranking of players most likely to be named 2024 A.L. Rookie of the Year. But the 26-year-old Radford University alum ranks even higher in multiple offensive categories. Of all A.L. rookies with 350+ plate appearances, Horwitz is #1 in batting average (.275), OBP (.364), and OPS (.820). He is #2 in in slugging percentage (.456), strikeout percentage (18.4%), and walks/strikeouts (0.60). And he comes in #3 in walk percentage (11.0%) and line-drive percentage (22.5%). Is Fox Sports underestimating Horwitz’s chances? (9/22/2024)
  • Astros prospect Colton Gordon (AAA) takes loss despite strong outing, yielding 2 earned runs and just 6 baserunners over 6.2 innings while striking out 7 batters in 3-0 defeat at hands of Giants affiliiate. On other side of field, DH Hunter Bishop — who struck out twice and grounded out against Gordon — goes 0-for-4 (9/21/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees/AAA) improves Triple-A record to 7-1 in 8-5 victory over Blue Jays affiliate, tossing 2 scoreless innings on one hit, no walks, and 2 strikeouts. Effross, who has pitched in 76 Major-League games since 2021 debut, needs just 24 pitches to get job done (9/21/2024)
  • LHP Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) earns second save of season in 6-4 win over Royals affiliate, closing out game with scoreless inning on one hit, no walks, and one strikeout (9/20/2024)
  • Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani becomes first player in MLB history to hit 50 HRs and steal 50 bases in same season, thanks to 6-for-6 outing on September 19 that includes 3 HRs, 2 stolen bases, 10 RBIs, and 17 total bases in 20-4 wipeout of Marlins. But there are several Jewish angles to the story:
    • Ohtani’s 50th home run breaks the Dodger record of 49 set by RF Shawn Green in 2001. Green acknowledged as much in congratulatory video message to Ohtani after game. “You’re the greatest player who’s ever lived and I’m honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as you,” Green said
    • Ohtani’s perfect 6-for-6 game is 80th in MLB history, but two Jewish players got there before him. Green (Dodgers) went 6-for-6 in 16-3 win over Milwaukee Brewers on May 23, 2002. Seven years later, on April 15, 2009, 2B Ian Kinsler (Rangers) went 6-for-6 with HR, 2 doubles, and 4 RBIs in 19-6 win over Orioles. Meanwhile, LF Ryan Braun (Brewers) stroked 6 hits on May 4, 2019, but it took him 8 at-bats to get there
    • Though Ohtani’s 3-HR game was mind-blowing, Green’s 6-for-6 performance arguably was better. The 6’4″ stringbean tied a Major-League record with 4 HRs that day, recorded 19 total bases — an MLB record that still stands — and added double and 7 RBIs
  • MiLB.com publishes lilluminating feature article on RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA), a 23-year-old prospect who has had a sizzling 2024 despite having been cut twice from high-school baseball team. Nicknamed “Red Bull” for his energy on mound, Reyzelman — who has Israeli flag stitched into his glove — finishes regular season with 1-1 record, 5 saves in 5 chances, 1.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts in 38.2 innings across 3 leagues. His current team, the Somerset Patriots, will compete for Eastern League Championship in 3-game series that begins September 22. Click here to see recent interview (9/12/2024)
  • Mazel Tov to LF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AA) for being named to Northwest League’s 2024 All-Star Team. In just second year as pro, Vanderbilt University alum climbs through 2 levels before finishing season in Double-A. All told, Schreck hits .251 (100-for-398) with 17 HRs, 63 RBIs, a fat .388 OBP, and .850 OPS (9/19/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) tosses 4.2 scoreless innings on one hit, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts over 3 playoff games from September 12-18. His team, the Hudson Valley Renegades, sets franchise record in 2024 with 73 regular-season wins and finishes with 47-19 record at home, the best in Minor League Baseball. Unfortunately, his team, the Hudson Valley Renegades, finishes runner-up for South Atlantic League crown, losing 4-1 in Game 3 of championship series to Bowling Green Hot Rods, a Rays affiliate (9/18/2024)
  • IF Michael Wielansky, a former Astros and Giants prospect who played for Team Israel in 2023 World Baseball Classic and led Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of independent Atlantic League in 2024 with .304 batting average, has signed contract to play in Liga Mexicana Del Pacifico. In 2022-23, Wielansky played for Panama in Caribbean Series (9/19/2024)
  • Two Jewish pitchers face off in Angels’ 13-inning, 4-3 win over White Sox. LHP Jared Shuster (White Sox) throws 3 near-perfect innings of relief on total of just 39 pitches, yielding one hit and no walks while striking out one batter. LHP Kenny Rosenberg yields one unearned run on one hit and a strikeout over 1.1 innings (Angels)
  • RF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) ties career highs with 4 hits and 4 RBIs in 11-6 win over Rangers affiliate on September 15, including 2-run single that puts team up 5-4. Four days later, in 5-4 loss to Astros affiliate, designated hitter Bishop goes 2-for-2 with sac fly, stolen base, and 2 RBIs, including game-tying single (9/18/2024)
  • Go-ahead double in 8th inning by 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) puts team ahead for good in 5-3 win over Cubs. Gelof ends day 1-for-3 with walk and one RBI (9/18/2024)
  • C CJ Stubbs (Nationals/AAA) goes 2-for-3 with walk and game-tying double in 4-3 win over Cubs affiliate. On other side of field, 1B Matt Mervis goes 1-for-4, and pinch-hitter Chase Strumpf strikes out in lone at-bat (9/18/2024)
  • Three Jews appear in Triple-A game between Cubs and Reds affiliates, with one emerging the hero at another’s expense. 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) puts team ahead 2-1 with 4th-inning HR. In 11th inning, pinch-hitter Chase Strumpf strokes wall-banging RBI double off southpaw Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) to secure 5-4, walk-off win at home. It is Strumpf’s second walk-off hit in 6 weeks (9/12/2024)
  • RBI double by 2B Zack Gelof puts Oakland up 1-0 en route to 2-0 win over White Sox on Friday, with 24-year-old ending game 2-for-4. A day later, Gelof goes 3-for-4 with walk and game-tying RBI double in bottom of 9th inning, but White Sox score in bottom of inning to earn 7-6 win (9/14/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) strikes out side in 9th inning of 5-3 loss to Blue Jays affiliate. Since promotion to Double-A, 23-year-old has struck out 37 batters in 22.1 innings. His rate of 14.91 strikeouts per 9 innings ranks #4 among all Eastern League pitchers who have thrown at least 20 innings (9/12/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 1-for-3 with game-tying sacrifice fly in 4-3 win over Cardinals on Friday. Rookie is enjoying strong September, hitting .375 (12-for-32) with 3 HRs, 4 doubles, 7 RBIs, OBP of .447, and 1.229 OPS. Horwitz’s 12 HRs to date have tied his minor-league high (9/14/2024)
  • RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles) pitches well enough to win, but reliever yields 3 runs in bottom of 10th inning to give Red Sox a 5-3, come-from-behind victory in Boston. Kremer finishes 7-inning outing with 7 strikeouts and one earned run on 5 hits and 2 walks (9/11/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 2-for-4 with double and 3-run, 410-foot HR in 11-3 win over Phillies (9/13/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 with 2-run HR and intentional walk in 5-3 win over Angels. Watch post-game interview here (9/13/2024)
  • After entering game as defensive substitute in 10th inning, C CJ Stubbs (Nationals/AAA) draws RBI walk in top of 12th inning for 6-5 lead. Team goes on to beat Guardians affiliate 8-6 (9/14/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) tosses 5 innings of one-run ball in 3-0 loss to Rockies affiliate, surrendering 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5 batters (9/13/2024)
  • Mazel Tov again to LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA), who is named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for second time in 3 weeks. Houston’s #11 prospect earned new award thanks to September 4 win in which he was perfect through first 4 innings and ended up yielding a mere 2 baserunners over 6 scoreless innings while striking out 7 batters. And Gordon continues to perform. Today, he tossed 6 strong innings in 6-2 victory over Diamondbacks affiliate, giving up one earned run on just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6 batters (9/10/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) goes 2-for-5 with go-ahead HR, his 17th shot of season, and 23rd stolen base in 4-3, 12-inning win over Astros. On other side of field, 3B Alex Bregman goes 0-for-5. Gelof is one of just 19 MLB hitters with 15 or more HRs and 20 or more SBs (9/10/2024)
  • Irene Kurtz, a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor, tosses first pitch at Blue Jays home game. Who is her catcher? Spencer Horwitz, of course (9/9/2024)
  • When Phillies teammates Max Lazar and C Garrett Stubbs each took mound in 10-1 loss to Marlins on September 8, they became only 4th pair of Jewish teammates in Major League history to accomplish feat. According to historian Bob Wechsler of Jewish Baseball Museum, the three others are Sandy Koufax and Larry Sherry of Dodgers, Dave Roberts and Ken Holtzman of Cubs, and Alan Levine and Scott Schoeneweis of Angels (9/11/2924)
  • CJ Stubbs (Nationals/AA) opens scoring with RBI double and throws out both attempted base-stealers in and ends day 2-for-4 and catches
  • On September 12, Giants will host final Jewish Heritage Night of season. Ticket buyers will receive a long-sleeve hooded shirt that says “San Francisco Giants” in Hebrew. Click for tix
  • LHP Jake Miednik (Gastonia Baseball Club) tosses complete-game no-hitter against Hagerstown Flying Boxcars of independent Atlantic League. A former Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners prospect who pitched for Team Israel in 2023 World Baseball Classic, Miednik allows only 2 baserunners and, thanks to a fielding error, one unearned run over 7 innings en route to 3-1 victory. Miednik’s outing marks only the 7th complete-game no-hitter in 26-year-old history of Atlantic League, a professional partner league of MLB. The recent one was a 2023 gem by former Major League southpaw Robert Stock — who pitched, alongside Miednik, for Israel at the 2023 WBC (9/2/2024)
  • Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) flexes big power over weekend. On Friday, 26-year-old infielder goes career-best 4-for-5 with 2 HRs, RBI double, and 3 RBIs in 9-5 win over Braves, thus setting franchise record of 11 total bases by a rookie. On Sunday, Horwitz enters game as pinch-hitter in 8th inning and promptly smacks 2-run HR to put Toronto ahead 2-1. Radford University alum ends day 2-for-2, but Atlanta ekes out 4-3 victory in 11 innings. Horwitz now has 12 HRs, which matches his minor-league high. It’s worth noting that since late July, Fox Sports has bumped up Horwitz — seen here in post-game interview Saturday — from #8 to #6 in its ranking of the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award’s most likely winners (9/8/2024)
  • In rare but not unprecedented moment in Jewish Baseball history, 2 Jewish players pitch for same team in one game. Garrett Stubbs (Phillies), a back-up catcher who is 7-for-14 at the plate over past 4 games, takes mound for 4th time this season, tossing scoreless inning of relief on a mere 8 pitches in 10-1 loss to Marlins. Earlier in game, RHP Max Lazar yields one earned run over 2.2 innings on 2 hits, walk, and 2 strikeouts. That was far better than starter Seth Johnson, who gave up 9 earned runs before being pulled with one out in 3rd inning (9/8/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) strokes solo HR in bottom of 6th inning to put New York ahead 1-0 en route to 4-0 win over Reds. He ends day 1-for-3 (9/7/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) blasts 2-run, pinch-hit HR and later draws walk in 5-3 loss to Nationals. Tellez’s shot leaves bat at blistering 113-mph and travels 443 feet into Allegheny River (9/7/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) continues to scorch South Atlantic League batters, tossing scoreless inning on one hit, no walks, and 2 strikeouts in 9-1 win over Tourists. In 12 appearances and 19.1 total innings since promotion to High-A, undrafted free agent is 3-0 with 0.93 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts against just one walk (9/8/2024)
  • Harrison Cohen isn’t only promising pitcher in Yankees’s farm system. Recent article on RHP Eric Reyzelman (AA) describes the 2022 draftee as an “impressive bullpen arm dominating Double-A.” How scary is he to batters? Of all minor-leaguers who have pitched at least 30 innings this season, Reyzelman’s 41.1% strikeout rate ranks #4 (9/6/2024)
  • 3B Michael Snyder, a 2024 draftee who batted just .085 in August, goes 3-for-4 with walk and 3 RBIs in 23-8 slaughter of Marlins affiliate (9/8/2024)
  • RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/High-A) allows just 5 baserunners over 5 innings in 3-1 victory over Angels affiliate, striking out 5 batters and yielding one unearned run (9/8/2024)
  • LF Dalton Guthrie (Red Sox/AAA) goes 3-for-5 with RBI single in 10th inning en route to 10-inning, 9-7 victory over Nationals affiliate (9/8/2024)
  • Bad news in Los Angeles: Angels place CF Kevin Pillar on 10-day injured list due to left-thumb sprain. MLB Trade Rumors says it’s possible Pillar will miss final 3 weeks of season (9/7/2024)
  • Two Jewish starters earn commanding wins at home. RHP Dean Kremer is masterful, taking no-hitter into 7th inning before allowing 2 singles in 2-0 victory over Rays in Baltimore. By time he is pulled, Kremer has accumulated 7 strikeouts and yielded just 2 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batter. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, LHP Max Fried (Braves) tosses 7 shutout innings in 3-1 triumph over Blue Jays, allowing 5 hits, one walk, and one hit batter while striking out eight, including a called-third-strike knockout of pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz (9/6/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) goes 0-for-4 but drives in 2 runs on forceouts en route to 15-0 crushing of Orioles affiliate. Behind plate, the 2022 draftee nails one of three base-stealers but makes throwing error on another. Game proves to be Dissin’s last in High-A, as he is promoted to Double-A the following day (9/5/2024)
  • 1B Lyle Miller-Green (White Sox/A), a 2022 draftee, goes 2-for-4 with double, walk, and 2 RBIs in 14-2 win over Red Sox affiliate (9/6/2024)
  • C CJ Stubbs (Houston/AA), young brother of Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs, opens scoring with RBI single in 6-3 win over Orioles affiliate, ending day 1-for-4 but giving up three stolen bases (9/6/2024)
  • RF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) strokes game-tying single, but team ends up on wrong side of 4-3 loss to Royals affiliate. He finishes day 1-for-4 (9/5/2024)
  • Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of Cincinnati Reds, host Jewish Heritage Night on Sunday, September 8. LHP Evan Kravetz is member of Bats’ bullpen (9/7/2024)
  • LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA) yields a mere 2 baserunners over 6 scoreless innings and strikes out 7 batters to usher division-leading Sugar Land Space Cowboys to 8-3 win over 2nd-place Dodgers affiliate. Commanding victory comes just 10 days after another 6-inning, 2-hit win that saw Houston’s 11th-ranked prospect strike out 11 batters and earn Pacific League Pitcher of the Week honors. For season, Gordon is 8-1 with 4.26 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 109 strikeouts (9/4/2024)
  • Well, that stings. DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) is getting hit by a pitch every 26.2 times he steps to plate this season, often enough to rank #3 in HBP-frequency among all MLB batters with at least 300 plate appearances. Is it because he crowds the plate? Because pitchers would rather give slugger a free pass than connect with his bat? Either way, Pederson is a tough dude with a lot of welts on his body (9/3/2024)
  • Speaking of Joc Pederson, the Diamondbacks slugger is averaging one HR per 15.3 ABs this season, good enough to rank him #12 in home-run frequency among all MLB batters with 20+ HRs (9/3/2024)
  • LF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) goes 3-for-6 with RBI single and stolen base in 13-0 laugher over Angels affiliate. Although Bishop’s batting average is a modest (but climbing) .236, he is hitting .284 (23-for-81) with 2 outs and runners in scoring position, including 4 HRs, 20 RBIs, and OBP and OPS of .356 and .887, respectively (9/3/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees) returns to form in second game since call-up from Triple-A, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings of relief on one walk, zero hits, and 2 strikeouts en route to 10-6 loss to Rangers (9/4/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) earns save in 6-4 win over Mets affiliate, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings on one hit, zero walks, and 3 strikeouts. In 18 appearances since promotion to Double-A, Louisiana State University alum is 1-1 with 5 saves in 5 chances, 2.25 ERA, opponent batting average of .189, and 31 strikeouts over 20 innings (9/4/2024)
  • LHP Jared Shuster (White Sox) strikes out 4 consecutive batters in 9-0 loss to Orioles. He goes on to yield one earned run on 2 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts over 2.1 innings (9/3/2024)
  • RF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs in 10-5 win over Royals affiliate (9/4/2024)
  • 2B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) hits game-tying HR in 5th inning, but team goes on to lose 2-1 to Twins affiliate. Solo shot is Strumpf’s 12th round-tripper of season (9/4/2024)
  • LF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) is hero in come-from-behind win over Athletics affiliate, hitting 3-run HR in bottom of 9th inning to tie game 9-9. Team goes on to win 11-9, and Bishop ends day 1-for-4 with walk at home (9/1/2024)
  • Two minor-league starters showcase their mastery, with both yielding a mere 4 baserunners. RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA), who ranks among top Eastern League hurlers in multiple stats, gives up 2 hits, walk, and HBP over 6 scoreless innings and strikes out 6 batters in 3-2 victory over Orioles affiliate, although he doesn’t get credit for win. Meanwhile, LHP Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA), back in minors after 2 call-ups this season, baffles Astros affiliate over 7 scoreless innings, giving up 4 hits and zero walks while striking out 8 batters in 8-2 win (8/31/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) tosses scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts in 6-2 win over Phillies affiliate, thus becoming only pitcher in South Atlantic League to record at least 20 strikeouts while allowing zero walks. Among his victims Sunday is C Jordan Dissin, who is hit by pitch. Across 3 leagues this season, Cohen is combined 5-0 with 1.50 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and .167 opponent batting average (9/1/2024)
  • DH Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 3-for-5 with 2-run HR and RBI single in 15-0, 23-hit demolition of Twins in Minneapolis (8/31/2024)
  • RHP Jake Bird (Rockies) throws 2 scoreless innings of relief in 6-1 loss to Orioles, giving up zero hits and one walk while striking out 2 batters. Read Bird’s interview here (9/1/2024)
  • Rowdy Tellez (Blue Jays) strokes 2-run, pinch-hit single in 8th inning en route to 3-0 win over Guardians (8/31/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross, who recorded a 2.13 ERA and 3 saves for the Yankees in 2022 before being sidelined for 20 months due to Tommy John surgery, has fought his way back to New York. The former Chicago Cub officially got the call today after a dominant August in Triple-A, during which he went 2-0 with one save, a 1.42 ERA, and 12 strikeouts versus 2 walks over 10 appearances and a combined 12.2 innings. The Yankees immediately put Effross on the mound, making him the 17 Jewish player in the Majors this season. But the going was a little rough. Entering today’s game against the Cardinals in the 5th inning, the 6’2″ sidearm pitcher erased an opening single by Paul Goldschmidt with a double play, but St. Louis proceeded to send Effross to the showers with a single and home run. Given his career ERA of 2.78 and 1.037 WHIP from 2021-22, we are confident the Indiana University alum will quickly bounce back if given the chance (9/1/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) smacks 2-run, go-ahead HR to give Pittsburgh a 6-4 lead, but team ends up losing to Guardians 10-8 in Cleveland. Tellez ends day 2-for-3 and lifts batting average to .257, up from .230 two months ago (8/30/2024)
  • Two players selected out of college in July finally make pro debuts on August 28 — and do so while playing against each other. RHP Charlie Beilenson, a 5th-round draft pick of Mariners, takes mound in 4th inning and tosses scoreless inning of relief, yielding no hits and one walk while striking out one batter. RHP Josh Mallitz, an undrafted free agent signed by Padres, enters game in 6th inning and earns hold despite giving up one earned run on 2 hits and a strikeout. Finally tally: both pitchers toss one inning, face 4 batters, and throw 17 pitches. But Mallitz’s Single-A team prevails 6-4 (8/28/2024)
  • In a 2-minute, on-the-street interview, CF Harrison Bader — who spent part of 2023 with Yankees and all of 2024 with Mets — discusses joys of living in home town (8/28/2024)
  • Two MLB teams — Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals — will host Jewish Heritage Night at their respective stadiums on September 1. Click here for tickets (8/30/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) hurls 2 perfect innings of relief and delivers 2 strikeouts in 7-0 shutout of Phillies affiliate. Since promotion to High-A, undrafted free agent is 2-0 with 1.15 ERA, 0.51 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts versus zero walks (8/29/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees/AAA) tosses perfect inning of relief and strikes out 2 of 3 batters in 6-2 loss to Nationals affiliate. With one game left in August, Effross is 2-0 with one save this month, an ERA of 1.42, and 0.79 WHIP (8/30/2024)
  • RF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AA) reaches base 3 times in 7-5 loss to Pirates affiliate, going 1-for-3 with RBI double and 2 walks, one of them intentional. In 23 games since promotion to Double-A, the 2023 draftee is hitting .288 (16-for-80) with 5 HRs, 8 doubles, one triple, OBP of .406, and 1.006 OPS (8/30/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) strokes RBI single and picks off runner at first base in 6-3 win over Yankees affiliate, ending day 1-for-2 with walk and hit-by-pitch (8/30/2024)
  • LHP Evan Kravetz (Reds) makes MLB debut just hours after being called-up from Triple-A, throwing 0.2 scoreless innings en route to 9-6 loss to Athletics. Rice University alum isn’t only Jewish player on field when he takes mound with one out, one run scored, and men on first and third in 7th inning: 2B Zack Gelof, who minutes earlier singles and then steals 2 bases, stands on third. Kravetz’s first Major League pitch — a 90.8-mph four-seam fastball — induces groundball force-out, but Gelof manages to score. Three pitches later, Kravetz, the 16th Jewish player in Majors this season, induces another groundball force-out to end inning, thus leaving mound having tossed total of 4 pitches. According to Jewish Baseball Museum, the 6’8″ Team Israel alum is tied with 3 former players for tallest Jew in Major League history: RHP Jason Hirsh (2006-08), RHP Michael Schwimer (2011-12), and 1B Nate Freiman (2013-14). Fourth-place Cincinnati (63-70) will face 4th-place Athletics (58-75) again on August 29 (8/28/2024)
  • Two Jewish opponents hit dueling 2-run homers in Arizona’s 8-5, come-from-behind win over Mets. DH Joc Pederson’s 415-foot shot to right field puts Diamondbacks ahead 3-0, while CF Harrison Bader’s 423-foot blast to left field ties game 4-4. Pederson now has 21 HRs, marking 7th time in career he has hit more than 20 in season, something only 21 other active Major Leaguers can say (8/28/2024)
  • It’s an up and down game for 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates), who smacks 2-run single in 2nd inning to put team ahead 5-3 but leaves game in 7th inning due to apparent injury. Tellez ends day 3-for-5 with 3 singles — one of which strikes teammate Oneil Cruz — but Cubs score 3 runs in 8th inning and 6 runs in 9th inning to prevail 14-10. (8/28/2024)
  • Several eagle-eyed readers noticed that RHP Trent Thornton (Mariners) is nicknamed The Big Dreidel. Is he Jewish, they wondered? A Jewish Baseball News contributor looked into the question and learned that Thornton is not Jewish. It turns out teammate Cal Raleigh chose the nickname because Thornton can spin a breaking ball (8/28/2024)
  • LF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) hits game-tying double in 2nd inning and 2-run double in bottom of 9th inning, but rally falls short in 9-8 loss to cross-town Athletics affiliate. He ends game 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs and .230 batting average, his highest in a month (8/28/2024)
  • Lake County Captains (Guardians/High-A) host Jewish Heritage Night this evening in Eastlake, OH. Click here for tickets (8/29/2024)
  • It’s literally a red-letter day for LHP Evan Kravetz, a 6’8” southpaw called up today by the Cincinnati Reds. Plucked out of Rice University in the 5th round of the 2019 amateur draft, the 27-year-old Miami native is 5-3 with one save for the Louisville Bats (AAA) this season, producing a 3.40 ERA over 41 games and an average of 10 strikeouts per inning. Today’s call-up to the Major Leagues is the first for Kravetz, who made one appearance for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. The 4th-place Reds (63-69) face the 4th-place Oakland Athletics (57-75) and 2B Zack Gelof at 6:40pm tonight in Cincinnati. If Kravetz makes it onto the field, he will be the 16th Jewish player to do so this season (8/28/2024)
  • Mazel Tov to LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA) on being named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for August 19-25 after delivering most impressive win of pro career on August 23, giving up just 2 hits and one walk over 6 scoreless innings while striking out career-high 11 batters in 2-0 shutout of Rockies affiliate. MLB.com predicts that Gordon, who ranks 10th in league in total strikeouts and is Houston’s #11 prospect, will make MLB debut this season (8/26/2024)
  • For second time in 3 games, 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) plays infield for much of game and then takes mound. Tellez starts 9th inning at first base but is handed ball with one out, men on first and third bases, and 4 runs already scored by Cubs. By time inning ends, Tellez has hit 2 batters (one with bases loaded), yielded single, and given up RBI walk. Then, in bottom of 9th inning, Tellez singles. It’s likely the two batters Tellez hit will not bruise, given they were struck with pitches registering 47.1-mph and 54.7-mph. Chicago emerges with lopsided 18-8 win (8/26/2024)
  • And then there was one. With assignment of Mariners draftee RHP Charlie Beilenson and Padres signee RHP Josh Mallitz to their respective Single-A teams, the sole 2024 draftee to remain unassigned is RHP Josh Blum (Mets). On a related note: how ticked are Angels that LHP Ryan Prager, the draft’s 81st overall pick, decided to stay at Texas A&M? Of the first 81 players selected in draft, Prager is one of only 3 who declined to sign (8/27/2024)
  • LHP Max Fried (Braves) throws 5 solid innings to earn win in 10-6 victory over Twins, surrendering one earned run on 4 hits and zero walks while striking out 7 batters (8/26/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) hits go-ahead HR, his 21st round-tripper of season, in 7th inning en route to 6-3 win over Orioles in Baltimore, ending day 2-for-5 with one RBI. Bregman and DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) are two of only 48 active major-leaguers to have hit more than 20 HRs in at least 5 separate seasons. Pederson has accumulated six such seasons, and Bregman five (8/25/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) doubles, triples, gets hit by pitch, drives in run, scores three more, and goes career-best 4-for-4 in 11-3 triumph over Royals. It’s the first time in 184 career games the backup catcher has had more than 2 hits, and first time he has doubled and tripled in same game (8/25/2024)
  • RHP Jake Bird (Rockies), called up from Triple-A earlier in day, earns win in 3-2 victory over Marlins, tossing scoreless inning of relief on one walk, zero hits, and 2 strikeouts (8/26/2024)
  • DH Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) gives team 2-0 lead with 2-run single en route to 8-2 win over Athletics affiliate. Bishop ends day 1-for-3 with walk (8/27/2024)
  • C CJ Stubbs (Nationals/AA) strokes 2-run single, advances to second base on play, and then scores on throwing error after stealing third base. He ends day 1-for-4 in 6-5 squeaker over Yankees affiliate (8/27/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) hits RBI double and sacrifice fly in 12-7 win over Cubs affiliate, ending day 2-for-3 with walk and 2 RBIs. Brother of Athletics 2B Jake Gelof is enjoying best month since April, hitting .250 (13-for-52) with 3 HRs, 12 RBIs, 6 doubles, 3 stolen bases, OBP of .344, and .882 OPS. After striking out an average of 22 times per month in first 4 months of season, second-year player has struck out just 8 times against 7 walks in August (8/27/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) has historic night in 10-2 loss to Reds. Tellez, who plays first base during innings #1-8, hits monster 2-run HR in 2nd inning. In 9th inning, he takes mound and holds Cincinnati scoreless on 9 pitches. How many times in MLB history has position player started game in field, hit HR, and then moved to pitcher’s mound? Not even the all-knowing folks at Baseball Reference can answer question without investing an enormous amount of computing power. Let’s just say Tellez’s feat is rare (8/24/2024)
  • LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA) delivers most impressive win of pro career, giving up just 2 hits and a walk over 6 scoreless innings while striking out career-high 11 batters in 2-0 shutout of Rockies affiliate. MLB.com predicts that Gordon, whom it ranks Houston’s #11 prospect, will make MLB debut this season (8/23/2024)
  • Despite impressive 6-game debut, RHP Max Lazar (Phillies) — including perfect inning of relief in 11-2 win over Royals last night — is optioned to Triple-A today. Lazar has held opponents scoreless across a total of 5.2 innings during brief MLB foray, yielding 2 hits and walking none while striking out 5 batters. Here’s hoping Philadelphia calls him back up when rosters expand September 1 (8/25/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) replaces starting pitcher during 1st inning and delivers 2 perfect innings and strikes out 4 batters to earn win in 7-3 victory over Rockies affiliate. In 8 games since promotion, the George Washington University alum is 2-0 with 1.32 ERA, 0.585 WHIP, 16 strikeouts, and zero walks over combined 13.2 innings (8/24/2024)
  • RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) earns save #5 with 2 scoreless innings of relief in 6-4 victory over Padres affiliate, yielding 0 hits and one walk while fanning 5 batters. Jacobson has been dominant in August, going 1-1 with 3 saves in 3 chances, 0.71 ERA over combined 12.2 innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, and 17 strikeouts (8/23/2024)
  • A 2-run, go-ahead HR by LF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AA) in 7th inning proves game-winner in 4-2 win over Rockies affiliate. Schreck, who ends day 2-for-3, has homered in 2 straight games (8/23/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), who enters game as pinch-hitter, strokes solo HR in 8th inning of 7-1 win over Padres, ending game 1-for-2 (8/24/2024)
  • It’s not often a player earns RBI by getting hit by a pitch, but that’s precisely what 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) does with bases loaded in 7-0 win over Brewers affiliate, ending day 0-for-2 with walk (8/24/2024)
  • RF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) strokes 2 hits for third time in 4 games, opening scoring with RBI double and ending day 2-for-4 in 4-1 victory over Dodgers affiliate (8/24/2024)
  • CF Hunter Bishop gets 2 hits for third straight game, going 2-for-4 with one RBI in 15-4 loss to Mariners affiliate (8/23/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) goes 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 17th stolen base in 9-5 loss to Brewers (8/24/2024)
  • On August 11, a Holocaust survivor wearing a Diamondbacks cap written in Hebrew tossed out first pitch at Jewish Heritage Night in Phoenix. Arizona went on to crush the 1st-place Phillies 12-5. Diamondbacks DH Joc Pederson did not play, but Philadelphia reliever Max Lazar tossed perfect inning and struck out 2 batters (8/25/2024)
  • When was the last time you saw a pro baseball player wrap tefillin before a game? RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA), son of immigrants from Ukraine and Moldova, recently did. And given his success this season, maybe he’s on to something. Across 3 leagues, Reyzelman is a combined 1-1 with 3 saves, a hold, 1.45 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 31 innings (8/23/2024)
  • RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/High-A) delivers second consecutive 6-inning gem, yielding one earned run on just 2 hits, 2 walks, and hit batter to earn win in 8-2 victory over Pirates affiliate. The Orthodox Jew’s 3 strikeouts boost season total to 102. Only 21 other minor leaguers aged 21 years old or younger have hit century mark this season (8/22/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/AA) drives in team’s first 3 runs en route to 8-2 victory over Rockies affiliate, hitting solo HR in 1st inning and 2-run single in 2nd inning. Home run is 16th of season for Schreck, who ends day 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs and stolen base. Since acquisition from Mariners on July 29, the 2023 draftee is hitting .305 (18-for-59) with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs, OBP of .397, and 1.024 OPS (8/22/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) opens scoring with solo HR, his 20th round-tripper of season, but Houston succumbs to Red Sox 4-1. Given his career home-run spray chart, it’s no surprise that Bregman pulls the 361-foot shot to left field (8/21/2024)
  • LHP Max Fried (Braves) throws 7 strong innings in 3-2 loss to Phillies, giving up 2 earned runs on just 4 hits and a walk while striking out 4 batters (8/21/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) hits game-tying single in bottom of 12th inning and then scores walk-off run in 5-4 triumph over Brewers affiliate. He ends day 1-for-5 with walk (8/21/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays), batting cleanup, homers for second straight game in 11-7 loss to Reds, a 2-run shot that leaves bat at 106-mph. Horwitz ends day 2-for-3 with double, walk, and 2 RBIs (8/21/2024)
  • 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) hits walk-off single in 10th inning to deliver 3-2 win over Dodgers affiliate, ending day 2-for-4 with stolen base and 3 double plays (8/21/2024)
  • LHP Rob Kaminsky (Mariners/AAA) suffers toughest outing of career in 13-5 loss to Giants affiliate. First batter he faces is RF Hunter Bishop, who doubles. Later in same inning, Kaminsky plunks Bishop with 90.9-mph fastball. By time 3 outs have been recorded, Kaminsky will have yielded 7 earned runs on 8 hits, hit batter, and wild pitch. Bishop finishes day 2-for-4 (8/22/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 1-for-4 with solo HR in 10-3 win over Reds. Also worth seeing is a slick play the first baseman made earlier this week, plus the special cleats he recently wore in honor of Mental Health Awareness. Years ago, Horwitz suffered anxiety attack during Cape Cod League game (8/20/2024)
  • RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles) earns second straight win in 9-5 victory over Mets, yielding one earned run on 2 hits and 3 walks over 6 innings while fanning 7 batters (8/20/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AA) is in elite company. Of 614 amateurs chosen in 2023 MLB draft, the Vanderbilt University alum is one of just 87 to reach Double-A or higher through August 20. And his bona fides don’t stop there. Among the 87 high-achievers, Schreck ranks #7 with 17 total HRs (tied), #8 with 68 RBIs (tied), #18 with .383 OBP (tied), and #18 with .836 OPS (8/21/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) tosses 2 scoreless innings and earns hold in 10-0 laugher over Nationals affiliate, yielding one hit and no walks while striking out 2 batters. In 13 appearances across rookie, Single-A, and High-A ball this season, Cohen is 3-0 with 1.93 ERA, 3 holds, and 1.13 WHIP (8/20/2024)
  • RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) pitches 2 perfect innings of relief and strikes out 4 batters to earn 4th save in 2-1 squeaker over Padres affiliate (8/20/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodger/High-A) goes 2-for-4 with stolen base and go-ahead double in 4-2 win over Brewers affiliate (8/20/2024)
  • Playing for first time since July 2, 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes 2-for-5 with RBI single in 6-5, 10-inning win over Tigers affiliate (8/20/2024)
  • DH Lyle Miller-Green (White Sox/Single-A), a 2024 draftee, goes 1-for-3 with walk and second HR, a 2-run, go-ahead shot in 4th inning, but team ultimately loses 6-5 to Astros affiliate. Click here to see Miller-Green discuss minor-league pitching and the possibility of being two-way player (8/20/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Dodgers) opens scoring with RBI single and ends day 1-for-2 with walk and stolen base in 3-1 win over Marlins (8/20/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) opens scoring with RBI double and later lofts sacrifice fly in 9-5 victory over Royals, ending day 1-for-2 with walk, HBP, and 2 RBIs (8/20/2024)
  • RF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AA) strokes game-tying groundout in 3rd inning and go-ahead double in 5th inning en route to 5-1 triumph over Rockies affiliate. He ends day 1-for-3 with HBP and 2 RBIs (8/20/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) yields one earned run on 6 hits and one walk over 5.2 innings to earn win in 9-2 drubbing of Nationals affiliate, improving his record and ERA to 7-4 and 2.88, respectively. Davenport does plunk one player with a pitch — fellow Jew and catcher CJ Stubbs (8/20/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) continues hot streak. On August 19, veteran goes 1-for-3 with walk, HBP, and 20th home run in 9-6 win over Marlins. A day earlier against Rays, Pederson starts game on bench but still delivers. In 9th inning, he draws pinch-hit walk and then scores on game-tying HR by Adrian Del Castillo. In 10th inning, Pederson’s clutch RBI single puts Arizona ahead 7-6. Unfortunately, rally ends when teammate gets caught trying to steal home, and Tampa Bay goes on to win 8-6 in 12 innings (8/19/2024)
  • LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA) needs just 78 pitches to hurl career-high 6.2 innings in 4-3 loss to Mariners affiliate. After rough 1st inning in which he gives up 2 earned runs on 3 singles and an HBP, Houston’s #11 prospect is nearly untouchable, holding the next 20 batters hitless and striking out seven of them (8/18/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AA) opens scoring with 15th HR and smacks go-ahead triple in 3rd inning, but team ends up losing 4-2 to Phillies affiliate. Schreck ends day 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs (8/18/2024)
  • RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/High-A) dominates Giants affiliate in 6-inning start, giving up a mere 3 hits and and one walk (intentional) walk while striking out career-high 10 batters, including striking out side in 3rd inning. Unfortunately, Steinmetz’s team loses 3-2 (8/16/2024)
  • RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) throws 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn win in 5-2, come-from-behind triumph over Brewers affiliate. Jacobson has had a great month, going 1-1 with one save, 1.04 ERA, WHIP of 0.69, nine strikeouts, and just one walk over combined 8.2 innings (8/17/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) goes 2-for-4 with RBI double and 2-run, go-ahead home run in 7-2 win over Mariners, in Pittsburgh (8/17/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels), batting cleanup, goes 2-for-4 with RBI single and RBI double in 11-3 loss to Braves (8/17/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) earns 3rd save in 3 opportunities to seal 3-2, 10-inning win over Rockies affiliate. The 2022 draftee yields no hits and one walk over a scoreless inning (8/17/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AA) launches 14th HR of season in 6-4 win over Phillies affiliate on August 15, ending day 2-for-5 with one RBI. A day later, Toronto’s 28th-ranked prospect goes 1-for-4 with RBI single and stolen base in 10-6 loss to same team (8/16/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees/AAA) tosses scoreless inning of relief to earn win in 3-2 victory over Blue Jays affiliate. So far in August, Effross is 2-0 with one save, 1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 7 strikeouts, and one walk over combined 7.1 innings (8/16/2024)
  • RHP Max Lazar (Phillies) gives up first hit in 3 MLB appearances but ends with scoreless 9th inning to seal 13-3 win over Nationals (8/15/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) opens scoring with “Little League home run” in 11-4 win over Rockies, ending day 1-for-3 with walk and HBP. Pederson is hitting .324 (11-for-34) in August, with 4 HRs, double, 7 walks, 10 RBIs, .452 OBP, and 1.158 OPS (8/14/2024)
  • All-around great day for CF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA), who goes 1-for-3 with solo HR and 2 walks, steals a base, earns outfield assist by doubling-off runner at second base, and scores walk-off run in 4-3 win over Angels affiliate (8/14/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) rebounds from tough outing with 5.1-inning gem in 4-3 loss to Tigers affiliate, holding opponents scoreless on 3 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. He ranks #2 among Eastern League starters with 2.95 ERA and .225 opponent batting average, #3 with 1.18 WHIP and 77.1% left-on-base percentage, and #6 with 111 strikeouts (8/14/2024)
  • RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles) delivers best outing in over a month, yielding one earned run on 5 hits and 2 walks over 6 innings to earn win in 4-1 victory over Nationals (8/14/2024)
  • RHP Josh Wolf (Giants/Single-A) earns win in 15-6 victory over Athletics affiliate, tossing 2.2 perfect innings on just 20 pitches and striking out 4 batters (8/14/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) ranks #6 among all active Major League center fielders in career outfield assists, with 40 (8/15/2024)
  • 2024: 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) homers for 4th straight game in 3-2 win over Rays, a go-ahead shot he complements with double and single. Feat comes on heels of being named A.L. Co-Player of the Week for August 5-11, during which he hit .444 (12-for-27) with 3 HRs, 3 doubles, 3 walks, 6 RBIs, and 1.389 OPS. Award is third of Bregman’s career (8/13/2024)
  • Mazel tov to 3B/IF Zev Moore of Team Israel for being named MVP of the Under-23 European Championship Qualifier in Zurich. Moore hit .500 (9-for-18) with 2 doubles, a triple, 9 RBIs, and 1.267 OPS for Israel, which finished the tournament 5-0 to advance to the 2025 European Championship. He led all qualifier hitters in hits, RBIs, runs, and total bases (8/12/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A), playing for first time in 9 days, hits 2 game-tying HRs and ends day 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, but effort falls run short in 4-3 loss, 10-inning loss to Guardians affiliate (8/13/2024)
  • B Zack Gelof (Athletics) goes 3-for-4 in 8-4 win over Blue Jays, unleashing 2-run HR, 2 doubles, walk, and 3 RBIs. “I feel like I always kind of have the power,” says Gelof afterward. “I think just being direct to the ball and swinging at the right pitches is pretty big for me, so today was a great result.” On other side of field, 1B Spencer Horwitz goes 0-for-3 with walk (8/11/2024)
  • RHP Kenny Rosenberg (Angels), called up from Triple-A earlier in day, tosses 5 strong innings of relief in 6-1 loss to Blue Jays, yielding one earned run on 2 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. One of Rosenberg’s strikeouts comes against DH Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays), who ends day 1-for-3 with solo HR (8/13/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees) retires side on just 9 pitches to earn save in 6-4 win over Blue Jays affiliate (8/13/2024)
  • 1B Lyle Miller-Green strokes first pro HR, a solo shot in 2nd inning, en route to 2-1 loss to Royals affiliate in Game 2 of doubleheader. The 2024 draftee ends day 1-for-4 (8/11/2024)
  • DH Kevin Pillar (Angels) goes 2-for-5 with bases-clearing double in 6-4 win over Nationals (8/11/2024)
  • PH/1B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) manages to drive in 2 critical runs despite going 0-for-0, including a game-tying, bases-loaded walk in top of 9th inning and sacrifice fly in top of 11th inning, but Royals affiliate ultimately prevails 4-3 in 12 innings (8/11/2024)
  • DH Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) goes 2-for-5 with tie-breaking HR, double, and 3 RBIs in 17-10 loss to Rockies affiliate (8/12/2024)
  • Long Island Ducks of independent Atlantic League will host Jewish Heritage Night on August 18. Fans will be able to bid ahead of time on commemorative jerseys that will be worn by Ducks players at the game. Click here for tickets (8/13/2024)
  • RHP Max Lazar (Phillies) not only makes impressive MLB debut in 11-1 loss to Diamondbacks but becomes part of Jewish baseball lore. The 6’3″ closer, who will go on to record 1.1 scoreless innings, is on mound across from C Garrett Stubbs in 8th inning when Arizona DH Joc Pederson comes to plate, thus completing rare Jewish troika. Lazar strikes out veteran slugger on 6 pitches, finally retiring him with 93.2-mph, four-seam fastball that dodges swinging bat. According to Jewish Baseball Museum editor Bob Wechsler, the pitcher-catcher-batter combo has occurred only two other times since first Jewish major-leaguer debuted in 1871. On May 2, 1951, pinch-hitter Lou Limmer (Philadelphia Athletics) got best of 9th-inning faceoff against RHP Saul Rogovin and C Joe Ginsberg of Detroit Tigers, smacking 2-run HR that tied game, but Detroit went on to win 5-4 in 10 innings. The second Jewish trinity arose on August 15, 2013, when LHP Craig Breslow (Boston Red Sox) struck out LF Kevin Pillar (Toronto Blue Jays) swinging on 5 pitches, with C Ryan Lavarnway behind plate. Boston went on to win 2-1, and Lavarnway finished day 2-for-4 (8/10/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 with walk and 423-foot solo HR over Green Monster in 5-4 win over Red Sox at Fenway Park. Bregman is hitting .343 (12-for-35) in August, with 2 HRs, 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, and .978 OPS (8/10/2024)
  • C CJ Stubbs (Nationals/AA) goes 3-for-4 with 2 HRs, double, and 2 RBIs in 6-5 loss to Orioles affiliate. Round-trippers include go-ahead shot in 4th inning and game-tying blast off scoreboard in 6th inning. Two-homer game is 6th of Stubbs’ career (8/10/2024)
  • 1B Michael Snyder (Marlins/A), a 2024 draftee, smacks first pro hit in 6-3 loss to Twins affiliate, a 4th-inning single he follows with stolen base (8/10/2024)
  • Don’t forget: Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks are hosting separate Jewish Heritage Night events tonight. Each team will issue free ballcaps to Jewish ticketholders: a Rays hat with Star of David, or a Diamondbacks cap written in Hebrew Click here for ticket info (8/11/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 1-for-2 with solo HR and walk in 3-2 win over division-leading Phillies. Through first 9 days of August, veteran is hitting .333 (7-for-21) with 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, OBP of .481, and, at 1.386, MLB’s 6th-highest OPS (8/9/2024)
  • Mazel tov to RHP Max Lazar (Phillies), who receives first MLB call-up of career. Drafted by Brewers out of high school in 2017 and enjoying first season with Philadelphia franchise, 25-year-old has 13 saves across Double-A and Triple-A this season, tying him for #6 among all minor-league relievers, and sports slim 1.79 ERA. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Lazar hopes to make MLB debut this weekend but is likely to return to Triple-A on August 11, when P Taijuan Walker comes off injured list. Will catcher Garrett Stubbs call signals for Lazar? Stay tuned (8/9/2024)
  • Israel’s Under-23 team no-hits Switzerland to earn 5-0 victory in finals of European Championship qualifier (Pool B) in Zurich, thus securing first-ever spot in European Championship tourney for first time. RHP Aviv Bobrov gets Israel off to good start, yielding 7 walks and striking out 3 hitters over 4 innings to earn win. RHP Akiva Mathias Epstein follows with 3 no-hit innings on one walk and 4 strikeouts to earn save. Epstein, an Ohio native who moved to Israel after high school, is star of tournament, tossing total of 8 no-hit innings over 3 games and striking out 11 while walking just three. European Championship will take place in 2025 in Czech Republic (8/9/2024)
  • LF Lyle Miller-Green (White Sox/A) hits 7th-inning single in pro debut, an 8-3 loss to Royals franchise in Game 1 of doubleheader. In Game 2 of doubleheader, the 17th-round pick goes 0-for-2 and HBP en route to 5-3 win (8/9/2024)
  • DH Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 3-for-4 with solo HR and double in 3-1 win over Athletics. On other side of field, 2B Zack Gelof goes 0-for-4 (8/9/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) reaches base 4 times in 8-4 win over Red Sox, going 3-for-4 with double, walk, and 2 runs scored (8/9/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees/AAA) throws 2 perfect innings and strikes out 3 batters to earn win in 4-1 victory over Phillies affiliate (8/9/2024)
  • RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) throws 2 near-perfect innings in 1-0 win over Twins affiliate to earn third save of rookie season. yielding one hit and no walks while fanning 3 batters (8/9/2024)
  • Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks both will host Jewish Heritage Night events on August 11. Each team will issue free ballcaps to Jewish ticketholders: a Rays hat with Star of David, or a Diamondbacks cap written in Hebrew Click here for ticket info (8/9/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) goes 2-for-3 with game-tying single in 7th inning en route to 3-2, come-from-behind win over White Sox in Oakland. Gelof also contributes in field, making diving stop with 2 outs and runners at first and third bases to end 4th-inning threat (8/7/2024)
  • Israel’s Under-23 team beats Belgium 7-1 in European Championship qualifier, thanks in part to starter Akiva Mathias Epstein, who throws 3 perfect innings and strikes out 4 batters. Israel (4-0) will face an as-yet-to-be-determined opponent in finale on August 10; you can watch game online for small fee. An Israeli victory would advance team to Under-23 European Championship for first time (8/8/2024)
  • Fifteen Jewish athletes hailing from Israel, Australia, and the U.S. have earned a total of 16 medals so far at 2024 Summer Olympics, which conclude on August 11. According to JTA, youngest is 17-year-old American swimmer Claire Weinstein, whose 4-woman relay team earned silver (8/9/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) throws scoreless inning of relief in 5-0 win over rival Mets affiliate, whose lead over Reyzelman’s team divisional standings shrinks to 1.5 games as a result. Two strikeouts increase reliever’s season total to 44 in 26.2 innings across 3 leagues, an average of 14.85 per 9 innings (8/7/2024)
  • RHP Zack Weiss (Twins/AAA) tosses 2 scoreless innings on just 20 pitches in 2-1 win over Guardians affiliate. Sole hit off Weiss is erased when he picks off the batter (8/8/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) hits RBI single in bottom of 9th inning to cut deficit to one run, but Padres prevail 7-6, with Tellez finishing game 2-for-4 with walk. A day earlier, Tellez opens scoring with 1st-inning single, but Padres end up winning 9-8 in 10 innings (8/8/2024)
  • Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks both host Jewish Heritage Night events on August 11. Each team will issue free ballcaps to Jewish ticketholders: a Rays hat with Star of David, or Diamondbacks cap written in Hebrew Click here for ticket info (8/9/2024)
  • White Sox assign 17th-round draft pick Lyle Miller-Green, an outfielder out of Austin Peay State University, to Single-A team (8/7/2024)
  • LF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 2-for-4 with RBI single and HBP in 11-0 rout of Padres affiliate, but bigger news is how dad Josh Mendlinger celebrated his own birthday a couple weeks ago: by throwing out first pitch to Noah before July 25 home game. Later that day, Noah hits game-tying single en route to 3-2 win over Astros affiliate (8/6/2024)
  • A 3-0 victory earns U.S. wrestler Amit Elor a gold medal in Olympics finals. Twenty-year-old daughter of Israeli natives thus becomes youngest U.S wrestler in history to win Olympic gold (8/6/2024)
  • Israel’s Under-23 team beats Poland 9-2 in European Championship qualifier to move one step closer to Saturday’s finals. Leading the way are twin brothers Zev Moore (4-for-5 with 2 RBIs and stolen base) and RF Eitan Moore (1-for-3 with walk and RBI). In 3 games so far, Israel and its 20-man roster — including 5 players currently doing army service and 16 sabras in all — has outscored opponents 36-5. If Israel wins tourney, team will advance to Under-23 European Championship for first time (8/7/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) opens scoring with 2-run single in 2nd inning, but Rockies prevail 6-3. Bader ends day 1-for-4 but suffers 4th error, tying him for last in Majors (8/6/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) does best to prevent White Sox from ending 21-game losing streak, going 2-for-4 with solo HR, his 14th round-tripper of season, but Oakland falls 5-1 at home (8/6/2024)
  • RHP Josh Wolf (Giants/A) tosses 2 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts in 3-2 loss to Angels affiliate, yielding zero hits and one walk (8/6/2024)
  • Kansas City Royals hosts Jewish Heritage Night tonight at home. Click here for tickets (8/7/2024)
  • Trenton Thunder, a team in unaffiliated MLB Draft League, hosts Jewish Heritage Night on August 8. Click here for tickets (8/7/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) smacks 2-run, pinch-hit HR in 8th inning to break tie en route to 7-6 win over 1st-place Guardians. Pederson has homered in 3 of last 4 games, and his home-run frequency of one every 14.4 ABs ranks #6 among N.L. hitters (8/5/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar’s full-extension catch on August 3 is named MLB Play of the Week (8/5/2024)
  • Pirates assign 1st-round draft pick Levi Sterling, a high-school southpaw who signed for $2.5-million bonus, to rookie-league team. For an extensive look at Sterling, see this July 20 article (8/5/2024)
  • Two days after hitting grand-slam HR, 3B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) smacks dramatic 2-run, game-tying shot in 10th inning en route to 10-9 win over Twins affiliate in 11 innings. He ends home game 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs (8/4/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and RBI in 6-0 win over Cardinals. Bader made MLB debut with St. Louis in 2017 and stayed with team until traded to Yankees in August 2022 (8/5/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) goes 0-for-2 with 2 walks, 2 runs scored, and stolen base in 5-1 win over White Sox. Gelof is one of 17 major-leaguers with 13+ HRS and 14+ stolen bases this season (8/5/2024)
  • RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) tosses 2 scoreless innings in 7-2 win over Royals affiliate, giving up one hit and no walks while striking out 4 batters (8/4/2024)
  • Amit Elor, an Israeli-American woman representing U.S. in 2024 Olympics, competes today in finals of 150-pound division. Elor — who hasn’t lost a match since 2019 — needed just 90 seconds to beat North Korean wrestler in semi-finals. If 20-year-old wins gold, she will become youngest U.S. wrestler to do so in Olympics history. The Athletic calls Elor “the most dominant Olympic athlete you might not know” (8/5/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) goes 1-for-4 with RBI single in 5-4 loss to Mets, but it is his fielding heroics that draw gasps. Pillar retires first batter of game with diving catch that announcer calls “an incredible Superman play.” In 5th inning, he throws out runner trying to stretch single into double (8/3/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) strikes out career-high 10 batters over 5 innings but gets no run support in 2-0 loss to Nationals affiliate. On other side of field, C CJ Stubbs goes 1-for-4, including a single and strikeout against Davenport. Davenport ranks #2 in Eastern League with 2.72 ERA, and his 102 strikeouts are tied for #6 (8/3/2024)
  • 1B Michael Snyder (Marlins/A) goes 0-for-2 with 2 walks and stolen base in pro debut, a 4-2 loss to Phillies affiliate. Miami selected U. of Oklahoma alum in 10th round of MLB draft last month (8/3/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 1-for-2 with 430-foot HR, 2 walks, and one RBI in 9-8 win over Pirates. On other side of field, 1B Rowdy Tellez hits RBI single in bottom of 9th inning to bring Pittsburgh within one run, but rally soon ends (8/2/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) takes mound for second time in 4 games and tosses perfect inning of relief in 10-2 loss to Mariners (8/2/2024)
  • 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 2-for-5 with 2 RBI singles in 8-5 win over Yankees on August 2. A day later, he goes 1-for-3 with walk and first error in 200 MLB chances (8/3/2024)
  • LF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 2-for-5 with stolen base and 2 RBIs in 8-2 win over Dodgers affiliate (8/2/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A), batting cleanup, opens scoring with solo HR en route to 5-2 win over Twins affiliate (8/2/2024)
  • 2B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) goes 1-for-4 with grand-slam HR in 5-1 win over Twins affiliate (8/2/2024)
  • LHP Rob Kaminsky (Mariners/AAA) triumphs over LHP Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA) in rare matchup between two Jewish starters. Kaminsky, a recent free-agent pickup assigned to starting rotation for first time since 2016, tosses 5 scoreless innings on 3 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts to earn win in 5-4 victory. Rosenberg takes loss after giving up 3 earned runs over 4.1 innings (8/1/2024)
  • Mazel tov to OF Matt Leiterman, an Israel Baseball Academy alum who will join D-1 program at Houston Christian University (no, that’s not a typo). The California native will play under coach Star Lance Berkman. Leiterman spent 2024 season at Ohlone College (JUCO), where he ranked #2 on team with .376 batting average (64-for-170), and #1 with 46 RBIs (8/2/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) opens scoring with RBI single in 6-1 win over Twins affiliate on August 1, ending day 1-for-4. A day prior, brother of Angels 2B Zack Gelof goes 3-for-6 with 2-run HR, double, and 2 RBIs in 15-3 win over same team (7/31/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) tosses scoreless 9th inning to earn save and secure 13-12 win over Orioles affiliate, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out 2 batters. In 8 games since promotion to Double-A, the 6’2″ California native is 1-0 with 2 saves, 2.89 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts over 9.1 innings (7/31/2024)
  • Athletics and Mariners will host Jewish Heritage Night at their home stadiums on August 4. Click here for tickets (8/2/2024)
  • It’s been just 2 weeks since Pirates selected high-school hurler Levi Sterling in 1st round of amateur draft, but Baseball America already is high on the 17-year-old right-hander. Respected publication’s updated ranking of Pittsburgh’s Top 30 prospects lists Sterling at #9 (7/26/2024)
  • With one day to spare before MLB’s July 30 trade deadline, Mariners dish OF RJ Schreck (AA) to Blue Jays in exchange for veteran IF Justin Turner. Schreck, rated Toronto’s #30 prospect by MLB.com, is assigned to franchise’s Double-A team on July 31 (7/31/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 1-for-3, draws a walk, and is hit by pitch with bases loaded in 15-2 blowout of Twins in Queens (7/29/2024)
  • Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) produces pinch-hit RBI for second time in 3 games, this time on 8th-inning single in 9-8, come-from-behind win over Nationals in Phoenix (7/29/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) hits walk-off HR in 7-6 victory over Dodgers in Houston on July 28. He also homers the night before in 5-0 win over Los Angeles (7/28/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) turns in one of finest performances of career in 3-2 win over Orioles affiliate, yielding just 2 hits and no walks while striking out 9 batters over scoreless 4.2-inning start. Davenport, who is absent from Baseball America’s recent list of Cleveland’s Top 30 prospects, has a 6-3 record and ranks #2 among all Eastern League pitchers with 2.67 ERA (7/28/2024)
  • Pinch hitter Joc Pederson strokes 2-run triple in 9-5 win over Pirates, ending day 1-for-2. So far in 2024, the 11-year MLB veteran is recording career bests with .277 batting average, .382 OBP, and OPS of .904 (7/27/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) goes 3-for-5 with double in 8-6 win over Athletics. So far this season, Pillar is recording career highs with .343 OBP, slugging percentage of .481, and .824 OPS (7/28/2024)
  • 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) hits 2-run, go-ahead double in 6-5 win over Rangers, ending day 1-for-4. Horwitz also drew intentional walk to load bases in bottom of 9th inning, a gamble that went wrong for Texas when next batter stroked walk-off single (7/26/2024)
  • RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles) tosses 6.0 strong innings in 9-4 loss to Padres, yielding one earned run on 7 hits, one walk, and 7 strikeouts (7/28/2024)
  • 2B Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/AA) opens scoring in two consecutive wins over 1st-place Cubs affiliate, hitting RBI double in 3-0 triumph on July 27 and sacrifice fly in 3-1 victory on July 26 (7/27/2024)
  • Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds/AA) host Jewish Heritage Night on Tuesday, July 30. Click here for tickets (7/29/2024)
  • Who will be named A.L. Rookie of the Year in 2024? According to gambling odds cited by Fox Sports, Rangers LF Wyatt Langford and Yankees P Luis Gil are neck-and-neck for award. 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) currently is 8th-ranked contender but a considerable underdog (7/26/2024)
  • Five of the six Jewish players selected in recent MLB amateur draft have signed on dotted line. (LHP Ryan Prager, a 3rd-round pick, has decided to return to Texas A&M rather than ink a deal with Angels.) Following are their signing bonuses:
    • RHP Levin Sterling (Round 1, #37 overall), Pirates: $2.5-million
    • RHP Charlie Beilenson (Round 5, #154 overall), Mariners: $25,000
    • 3B Michael Snyder (Round 10, #304 overall), Marlins: $17,500
    • RHP Josh Blum (Round 16, 473rd overall), Mets: $150,000
    • OF Lyle Miller-Green (Round 17, #499 overall), White Sox: $25,000
  • Of the 136 major leaguers who have hit at least 10 HRs thru July 25, two Jews rank among Top 25 for “No Doubters,” a category created by Baseball Savant. The website identifies 3 types of HRs: “Doubters” are those that would only clear the fence in 1 to 7 parks, “Mostly Gones” would be home runs in 8 to 29 parks, and “No Doubters” would clear fences at all 30 parks. Zack Gelof ranks #15, with eight No Doubters among his 13 HRs, and Joc Pederson ranks #21, with eight No Doubters among his 14 HRs (7/25/2024)
  • Two-run, go-ahead double in 8th inning by C CJ Stubbs (Nationals/AA) proves game-winner in 5-3 victory over 1st-place Rockies affiliate. He finishes day 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs and HBP (7/25/2024)
  • LF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) hits go-ahead double en route to 3-2 win over Astros affiliate, ending day 1-for-3 with one RBI (7/25/2024)
  • LF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) goes 2-for-5 with RBI double off southpaw in 11-9 win over Astros affiliate. Bishop is hitting .381 (8-for-21) against lefties but only .203 (15-for-74) against righties (7/25/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) smacks 200th HR of career and 14th of season in 8-6 loss to Royals, thus becoming 6th Jewish player to reach threshold. The 445-foot blast, his longest of season, puts Arizona ahead 2-1 in 4th inning. Pederson ends day 1-for-4 with intentional walk (7/24/2024)
  • LHP Ryan Prager, who helped lead Texas A&M to finals of 2024 College World Series and was selected 81st overall in this month’s MLB draft, has decided to rejoin Aggies for 2025 season rather than accept offer from Angels. How much bonus money is Prager giving up? We don’t know what Los Angeles might have offered him.. But draft’s #80 pick got an $800,000 bump, while #82 pick got $797,500 (7/24/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) puts Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 with RBI single and later hits towering, 447-foot HR into Allegheny River en route to 5-0 victory over Cardinals. Round-tripper is Tellez’s longest of season (7/24/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 with 2-run double in 8-1 win over Athletics. On other side of field, 2B Zack Gelof goes 0-for-4 (7/24/2024)
  • Angels CF Mike Trout, out since April 29 with torn meniscus, returns to action in first game of Triple-A rehab assignment but is pulled after 2 innings due to soreness in left knee. This could mean Kevin Pillar, who was signed April 30 to temporarily replace Trout, will remain L.A.’s starting centerfielder a little longer (7/23/2024)
  • Rumors that Nationals rookie CF Jacob Young has Jewish heritage are true: his father is Jewish. But a Nats spokesperson tells Jewish Baseball News that Jacob is a practicing Christian. So close! (7/23/2024)
  • When it comes to right-handed Jewish pitchers, the Yankees are all in, and the investment is paying dividends. Scott Effross (AAA), Eric Reyzelman, and Harrison Cohen (High-A) are a combined 5-0 this season, with 1.55 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, total of 57 strikeouts over 46.1 innings, and just 2 HRs yielded (7/23/2024)
  • It’s another flawless outing for RHP Ben Simon (Mets/High-A), who tosses 2 perfect innings and fans 2 batters in 3-1 win over Braves affiliate. In 10.1 combined innings over 5 appearances this month, the 2023 draftee has maintained a 0.00 ERA, given up just 2 hits and zero walks, and struck out 8 batters, good enough for a 0.19 WHIP and .065 opponent batting average (7/23/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) launches 4th home run of month, a 411-foot solo shot that pads Oakland’s 8-2 win over Astros. On other side of field, 3B Alex Bregman goes 1-for-4 but gets tossed out at home shortly after hitting double (7/23/2024)
  • 1B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) strokes game-tying double in 3rd inning of 13-6 loss to Pirates affiliate, ending day 1-for-4 with one RBI (7/23/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels), who enters game in 7th inning as pinch-hitter, strokes 2-run, go-ahead double off left-centerfield wall in 8th inning en route to 8-5 win over Athletics. On other side of field, 2B Zack Gelof goes 0-for-4 (7/21/2024)
  • LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA), Houston’s #8 prospect, improves record to 5-0 in 8-6 win over Padres affiliate, yielding 3 earned runs over 6.1 innings on 6 hits, zero walks, and 8 strikeouts (7/20/2024)
  • LHP Max Fried (Braves) discusses left-arm injury that lands him on 15-day injured list (7/20/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/AA) impresses in second game since promotion to Double-A, going 2-for-4 with double and RBI triple in 11-7 loss to Padres affiliate (7/20/2024)
  • DH Zach Levenson (Cardinals/High-A) reverses deficit with 2-run double in 6th inning to put team ahead 4-3, but Marlins affiliate goes on to win 5-4 in 10 innings. St. Louis’s #21 prospect ends day 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and leaves field in bottom of 10th inning after being hit by pitch (7/20/2024)
  • LHP Kenny Rosenberg (Angels) performs well in second MLB appearance of season, an 8-2 loss to Athletics. Rosenberg allows one earned run over 4 innings of relief, yielding 4 hits and an intentional walk while striking out 3 batters. Teammate Kevin Pillar goes 0-for-2 in pinch-hit role, while Oakland 2B Zack Gelof goes 0-for-4 (7/20/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) breaks 0-for-22 slump with RBI single in 2nd inning en route to 6-0 win over Pirates. He ends day 2-for-3 with walk and RBI (7/21/2024)
  • 2B/1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) ties game 4-4 with RBI single, and Toronto goes on to beat Tigers 5-4. Horwitz finishes day 1-for-4 with one RBI (7/21/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees/AAA) throws perfect inning of relief and fans one batter to earn win in 4-0 triumph over Blue Jays affiliate (7/21/2024)
  • RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/High-A) yields just one earned run over 5 innings in 5-3 loss to Mariners affiliate, giving up 4 hits and zero walks while striking out 4 batters (7/21/2024)
  • CF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) opens scoring with sacrifice fly and hits game-tying single in 6th inning en route to 8-3 win over Rockies affiliate, closing day 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs and a walk (7/21/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) hits go-ahead single in 10th inning to drive victory in 9-6 win over Mets affiliate, ending day 2-for-4 with stolen base (7/21/2024)
  • 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 3-for-4 with RBI single in 6-5 loss to Diamondbacks affiliate. In 8 games since returning from rehab stint, Mendlinger is hitting .367 (11-for-30) with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and .424 OBP (7/21/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) tosses 1.1 perfect innings of relief and strikes out one batter to earn hold in 3-1 win over Braves affiliate (7/21/2024)
  • LF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/AA) goes 1-for-3 with RBI single and stolen base in 3-1 win over Reds affiliate (7/20/2024)
  • Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals/High-A) host Jewish Heritage Night tomorrow, July 23, at 6:05pm ET. Click here for tickets (7/22/2024)
  • MLB.com broadcasts interview with White Sox draftee Lyle Miller-Green, a 6’5″ power hitter whose Jewish parents adopted him out of Siberia as an infant. “Just the fact that I’m playing baseball being from Siberia is something that I still can’t really wrap my head around,” he says. “I probably should be playing hockey or boxing or something like Ivan Drago” (7/14/2024)
  • The six Jewish amateurs selected in this month’s MLB Draft and one undrafted collegian who signed a minor-league contract are pretty tall bunch. Except for 6-foot RHP Charlie Beilenson (Mariners), all stand at least 6-foot-2 inches, with 6-foot-5 inch OF Lyle Miller-Green (White Sox) at the highest altitude (7/20/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) lofts 3 sacrifice flies, all of them consequential, in 8-7, come-from-behind win over Phillies, ending day 0-for-1 with 3 RBIs. Cleanup hitter’s sac flies, which set new Pittsburgh record, include game-tying shots in 1st and 3rd innings, and go-ahead pop in 7th inning. On other side of field, C Garrett Stubbs goes 1-for-3 with walk (7/19/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) tosses perfect inning of relief with 2 strikeouts to earn save in 2-0 win over Pirates affiliate. Reyzelman has been dominant this season, going a combined 1-0 with 0.83 ERA and 0.78 WHIP across rookie, Single-A, and Double-A leagues. In 21.2 total innings, Louisiana State University alum has struck 36 out batters and walked eight, and his average of 14.95 strikeouts per 9 innings ranks #33 among all minor-league pitchers who have tossed 20+ innings (7/19/2024)
  • RHP Scott Effross (Yankees/AAA) tosses perfect inning of relief with one strikeout in 1-0, 10-inning loss to Blue Jays affiliate. He needs just 8 pitches to retire side (7/19/2024)
  • Padres sign undrafted free agent Josh Mallitz (University of Mississippi), a middle reliever, to minor-league contract. The 6’4″ right hander went 0-1 with 4.28 ERA (#4 on team), 1.720 WHIP, and 9.9 strikeouts-per-inning in 2024 (7/17/2024)Which D-1 players made it onto the 2024 Jewish Baseball News College All-America Team? Click here to find out (7/16/2024)
  • Want more details on the six known Jews selected in the 2024 MLB Draft, including Siberia-born Lyle Miller-Green? Check out JTA’s article (7/17/2024)
  • MLB’s regular-season play resumes Friday, July 19 (7/19/2024)
  • Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals/High-A) will host Jewish Heritage Night on Tuesday, July 23. Click here for ticket info (7/19/2024)
  • Two more Jewish athletes are chosen in final day of 2024 MLB Draft, bringing grand total to at least six out of 615 draftees overall (7/16/2024). They are:
    • RHP Josh Blum (University of Southern California), selected by Mets in Round 16, #473 overall. Serving as USC’s closer in 2024, the 6’2″ Texas native went 2-1 with razor-thin 1.87 ERA, WHIP of 0.86, and average of 12.03 strikeouts per 9 innings. His 10 saves ranked #3 among PAC-12 pitchers, tied for #14 among all D-1 pitchers nationwide, and were most by Trojan reliever since 2007. Blum was named 2024 First Team All PAC-12, and 2024 Jewish Baseball News College All-America Team
    • OF/P Lyle Miller-Green (Austin Peay State University), selected by White Sox in Round 17, #499 overall. A two-way player adopted out of Siberia as an infant, Miller-Green can toss a 95-mph fastball, but it’s the 24-year-old’s hitting that draws gasps. In 2024, the 6’5″ Virginia native hit a blistering .393 and ranked among D-1 leaders in several categories, including 30 HRs (#5 nationwide), 94 RBIs (#3), OPB of .533 (#6/tied), and 1.432 OPS (#3), all while striking out at a modest 13.1% rate. Miller-Green earned many honors this season, including being named 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, 2024 First Team All-America by the National College Baseball Writers Association, and 2024 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Semifinalist. Jewish Baseball News learned too late about Miller-Green to include him on its 2024 College All-America Team
  • If you think there are no meaningful picks beyond first few rounds of MLB draft, reconsider. Five of 12 Jewish athletes to play in MLB this season were selected after Round 10. Then again, maybe it’s just Toronto that possesses gift for seeing value where others don’t. Of all 12 players, the three least-pursued — and 5 picks overall — were Blue Jays draftees. Following is draft history of all 12:
    • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels): Round 32 (#979 overall) by Blue Jays, 2015
    • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates): Round 30 (#895 overall) by Blue Jays, 2013
    • 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays): Round 24 (#717) overall by Blue Jays, 2019
    • RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles): Round 14 (#431 overall) by Dodgers, 2018
    • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks): Round 11 (#352 overall) by Dodgers, 2010
    • LHP Kenny Rosenberg (Angels): Round 8 (#240 overall) by Rays, 2018
    • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies): Round 8 (#229 overall) by Astros, 2015
    • CF Harrison Bader (Mets).: Round 3 (#100 overall) by Cardinals, 2015
    • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics): Round 2 (#60 overall) by Athletics, 2021
    • LHP Jared Shuster (White Sox): Round 1 (#25 overall) by Braves, 2018
    • LHP Max Fried (Braves). Round 1 (#7 overall) by Padres, 2012
    • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros): Round 1 (#2 overall) by Astros, 2015
  • Day 2 of 2024 MLB Draft yields three more Jewish athletes, bringing total so far to four players through Round 10. The three latest picks (7/15/2024):
    • LHP Ryan Prager (Texas A&M University), selected by Angels in Round 3, #81 overall. The 6’3″ southpaw with an “unhittable” fastball was the ace starter for 2024 College World series runner-up Texas A&M, going 9-1 with 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, a 32.3% strikeout rate, and 5.4% walk rate. In one College World Series start, Prager took no-hitter into 6th inning. Click here for video
    • RHP Charlie Beilenson (Duke University), selected by Mariners in Round 5, #154 overall. The Blue Devils’ closer finished 2024 with 7-3 record and was ranked at or near top among all D-1 pitchers in several categories, including #2 in ERA (2.01), #4 in saves (12/tied), and #16 in strikeouts/inning (13.21). Click here for interview
    • 3B Michael Snyder (University of Oklahoma), selected by Marlins in Round 10, #304 overall. A 2024 First Team All-Big 12 Selection, the 6’4″ California native led teammates in doubles (26), slugging percentage (.638), and stolen bases (16 of 17), and finished #2 in HRs (11) and RBIs (59). See video
  • Pirates pick Levi Sterling, a 17-year-old pitcher and shortstop out of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif., in 1st round of MLB draft (#37 overall). Only 3 other high-school pitchers were chosen before him. ESPN.com says Sterling “had some of the best command in the high school ranks,” while MLB.com predicts the 6’5″ righthander’s pitching may improve once he drops the shortstop gig. Adds Baseball America: “Owing to Sterling’s athleticism, plus control and four-pitch mix, scouts are happy to dream of what he could be in three or four years.” Draft experts had predicted Sterling wouldn’t be selected until middle of 2nd round. Rounds 3 to 10 of draft will be held Monday, July 15 (7/14/2024)
  • Tuesday’s All-Star Game will have Jewish player after all. P Max Fried (Braves) will join N.L. roster to replace injured Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez. Fried also was selected in 2022, the same year he finished #2 in voting for A.L. Cy Young Award, but did not play (7/13/2024)
  • Add this item to list of Weird Jewish Baseball Stuff. Phillies, down 13-3 to Athletics in top of 9th inning, tell catcher Garrett Stubbs to drop mask and take mound instead. First four Oakland batters get on base, which brings up 2B Zack Gelof with bases loaded. Gelof smashes Stubbs’ very first pitch, a 52.9-mph slider, some 421 feet to center field for first career grand-slam. A’s ultimately win 18-3. According to Bob Wechsler of Jewish Baseball Museum, it’s the first time in MLB history that a Jewish batter has hit grand-slam HR off Jewish pitcher (7/14/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics), who has homered 12 times and stolen 11 bases, is one of just 13 A.L. batters with both 10+ HRs and 10+ SBs (7/14/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) tosses 2 scoreless innings in 10-3 win over Tigers affiliate. The 2022 draftee yields 2 hits and zero walks while striking out 4 batters (7/13/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) performs well but lands on losing end of pitchers’ duel in 1-0 loss to Phillies affiliate. In 5 innings of one-run ball, Davenport gives up just one hit and 3 walks while striking out 4 batters (7/13/2024)
  • 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 1-for-4 in 16-9 win over Twins affiliate but scores 4 times. How’s that? In addition to doubling, Mendlinger walks once and gets on base twice due to errors (7/14/2024)
  • RHP Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) tosses 2 near-perfect innings in 1-0 loss to Blue Jays affiliate, only hiccup being a hit batter (7/14/2024)
  • RHP Ben Simon (Mets/High-A) throws 2 perfect innings and strikes out one batter in 5-0 shutout of Nationals affiliate. It takes Simon just 20 pitches to retire 6 batters (7/14/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), batting a humbling 9th in lineup, smashes 2 HRs for second time in career and drives in 3 runs in 7-6 squeaker over Rockies in Queens. Round-trippers include go-ahead solo shot in 2nd inning and 2-run, 406-foot homer in 4th inning. Bader’s other 2-HR game took place nearly five years ago, in a September 2019 loss. Six of Bader’s 8 HRs this season have come at home (7/12/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) plays starring role in 13-8 loss to Pirates affiliate. The 2023 draftee out of Vanderbilt University hits 2-run HR to boost Northwest-League high total to 12, walks twice to increase league-leading walk total to 56, and throws out baserunner trying to stretch double into triple (7/12/2024)
  • Day One of 2024 MLB draft commences at 6:00pm ET on Sunday, July 14. Two Jewish players — high-school pitcher Levi Sterling, and Texas A&M ace Ryan Prager — are expected to be selected within first 3 rounds (7/13/2024)
  • LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA) delivers standout performance in 4-1 loss to Athletics affiliate. Gordon, rated Houston’s #8 prospect, yields just one hit and 3 walks over 5 scoreless innings while striking out 2 batters (7/12/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 with solo HR in 6-3 win over A.L. West rival Rangers (7/12/2024)
  • 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 2-for-4 with go-ahead single in 9-7 win over Twins affiliate (7/12/2024)
  • 2B/1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 1-for-3 with game-tying sac fly in 5-4 loss to Diamondbacks. On other side of field, DH Joc Pederson goes 0-for-3 (7/12/2024)
  • Angels perform well at Jewish Heritage Night on July 10, beating Rangers 7-2 in Los Angeles. July 11 is another story for team and its 2 Jewish players. LHP Kenny Rosenberg, making first MLB appearance of 2024, gives up 6 earned runs over 6 innings of relief en route to 11-0 loss to Mariners. Meanwhile, RF Kevin Pillar manages to go 1-for-3 before getting ejected in 6th inning for arguing called strike on 3-and-2 pitch (7/11/2024)
  • LHP Max Fried (Braves) recovers admirably from rough July 5 outing, yielding just one earned run over 6 innings, but weak Atlanta bats result in 1-0 loss to Diamondbacks (7/11/2024)
  • LF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/AA) homers in Double-A debut, a game-tying shot en route to 6-4 win over Braves affiliate. He ends day 1-for-4 (7/10/2024)
  • RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) tosses 3 scoreless innings and earns hold in 4-2 win over Royals affiliate, yielding a hit and walk while striking out six batters. Outing, which ties career longest, leaves Jacobson with 3.72 ERA, his lowest since May 25 (7/10/2024)
  • In first Triple-A appearance since beginning rehab assignment June 28, RHP Zack Weiss (Twins/AAA) throws 2 scoreless innings in 6-5 loss to Reds affiliate, yielding one hit and zero walks while striking out 4 batters and earning hold (7/10/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A), playing for Single-A team on rehab assignment, earns win in 9-8 victory over Blue Jays affiliate. He tosses 1.2 scoreless innings on a hit, walk, and 2 strikeouts (7/10/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez strokes 100th careerHR in 12-2 drubbing of 1st-place Brewers, thus becoming 13th Jewish player in MLB history to reach that level. He launched 410-foot shot in Milwaukee, where he spent 2.5 seasons before joining Pittsburgh. Tellez has been on fire this month, hitting .400 (10-for-25) with 4 HRs, 8 RBIs, OBP of .444, and 1.324 OPS, all while striking out just 3 times (7/9/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 in 4-3 win over Marlins in Houston. Bregman’s go-ahead single in 5th inning puts Astros up 2-1, and his 2-run, go-ahead HR in 7th inning provides margin of victory (7/9/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) goes 3-for-4 with sacrifice fly in 7th inning and 3-run, 419-foot HR in 9th inning, but rally by Oakland — which was down 11-2 after just 2 innings — falls short in 12-9 loss to Red Sox. Gelof, who was hitting under .200 as recently as two weeks ago, is hitting .292 (7-for-24) so far in July, with one HR, 6 RBIs, OBP of .400, and .858 OPS (7/9/2024)
  • Yet another organization has ranked LHP Ryan Prager (Texas A&M University) and high-school pitcher Levi Sterling among the nation’s Top 100 prospects for the MLB amateur draft, which begins July 14. FanGraphs ranks Sterling #68 and Prager #87 (7/10/2024)
  • Mazel to White Sox prospect Shawn Goosenberg, who is promoted to Double-A. In 71 games with High-A team this season, Northwestern University alum hit .272 (74-for-272) with .348 OBP, smashed 9 HRs, and was tied for #4 in South Atlantic League with 51 RBIs (7/9/2024)
  • Los Angeles Angels and CF Kevin Pillar will host Jewish Heritage Night at 6:38pm PT against Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium tonight. Ticketholders will receive an Angels jersey with commemorative patch, enjoy a pregame Jewish Heritage Village, and receive special recognition before game (7/10/2024)
  • He’s probably not Jewish, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying this tee-baller’s joyful dance. Isn’t baseball great? (7/9/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) goes 1-for-4 and strokes go-ahead infield single in 6th inning en route to 8-2 win over Mets in Pittsburgh. On other side of field, CF Harrison Bader goes 1-for-3 with single (7/8/2024)
  • More kudos for Blue Jays rookie Spencer Horwitz, whose .454 OBP since July 7 call=up ranks #3 in MLB and whose .400 average in at-bats that begin with 0-and-2 count compares to .163 among all other Major Leaguers. The Toronto Star likens Horwitz’s remarkable plate discipline to that of former Blue Jays star John Olerud, which is high praise in that city. “One wonders where the Jays might be if it had been Horwitz and not Daniel Vogelbach getting big at-bats in May and early June,” writes columnist Mike Wilner (7/7/2024)
  • Home-run watch: Rowdy Tellez’s next round-tripper will be the 100th of his career. It might not be long: first baseman already has homered 3 times this month (7/8/2024)
  • Happy Birthday to LHP Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA). The California State University-Northridge alum, who made his MLB debut in 2022, turns 29 today
  • Retired Dodgers and Padres star (and perennial Hall of Fame candidate) Steve Garvey, who is not Jewish, visited with members of Israel’s youth national teams on June 26. “He even got in the batting cage to share some tips!”, Team Israel reports. Garvey, who spent several days in Israel to demonstrate support, is seeking to unseat U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-California) this Fall (6/26/2024)
  • Sad if honorable news from CF Kevin Pillar (Angels), who tells USA Today he wants to end his career on his own terms and is “98% sure” he will retire after at the end of this season. If that’s the case, will Pillar finish up his career in Los Angeles? FanSided, a sports website, argues that the Braves — who dumped Pillar after one season, in 2023 — would be wise to get him back. The centerfielder is hitting a sizzling .359 with 1.031 OPS against southpaws despite a recent slump, recently reminded us that he’s capable of spectacular plays in the field, and was heartbroken when he left Atlanta. Furthermore, the Braves “have been left with a hole in their outfield” ever since Ronald Acuna Jr. tore his ACL. “This kind of deal almost makes too much sense,” FanSided concludes (7/5/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 3-for-5 in 5-4, 10-inning triumph over Mariners. In the month since his June 7 call-up, the 5’10” rookie is hitting .329, and his .454 OBP over that period ranks #3 among all MLB hitters (7/7/2024)
  • Worcester Red Sox (Red Sox/AAA) and OF Dalton Guthrie will host Jewish Heritage Night at Polar Park on July 9 at 6:45pm. Click here for tickets (7/8/2024)
  • Two Jewish first-basemen thrill hometown fans with walk-off HRs. Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) strikes first, smacking 2-run double in 2nd inning and crushing solo HR in bottom of 9th inning to clinch 6-5, come-from-behind win over 1st-place Royals affiliate. An hour later, Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) goes 3-for-5 and breaks tie with 2-run HR in bottom of 9th inning to deliver 6-4 victory over Rangers affiliate. Outing pushes Goose’s RBI total to 51, tying him for #3 among all South Atlantic League batters (7/6/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) erupts for 2 HRs, including grand-slam, in 14-2 drubbing of Mets. Outing marks 12th two-HR game of career and 4th grand-slam, and it leaves Tellez one short of 100 HRs. On other side of field, CF Harrison Bader goes 0-for-3 (7/5/2024)
  • The independent New York Boulders — along with teammates IF Assaf Lowengart and OF David Vinsky — host Jewish Heritage Night today at 5:00pm ET at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY. Click here to buy tickets (7/7/20
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Houston) goes 2-for-4 and smacks pivotal HR in top of 9th inning en route to 13-12 squeaker over Twins. Bregman’s 404-foot shot down left-field line puts Houston up 13-5 and proves to be critical cushion when Minnesota puts 7 runs across in 9th inning (7/5/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) gets team off to good start with 2-run HR in 1st inning, but San Diego goes on to win 10-8 despite Arizona’s 6-run spree in top of 9th inning. Pederson ends day 2-for-3. Among all N.L batters with 200 or more at-bats, his 16.6% home-run percentage ranks #5 (7/5/2024)
  • RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/AA) tosses 1.2 no-hit innings in Single-A rehab start, yielding zero hits and one walk while striking out one batter in 9-2 loss to 1st-place Tigers affiliate (7/6/2024)
  • Jewish Heritage Night to be held this afternoon: the independent New York Boulders — along with teammates IF Assaf Lowengart and OF David Vinsky — will celebrate Jewish Heritage Night at 5:00pm ET today at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY. Click here to buy tickets (7/7/2024)
  • LHP Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) strikes out only batter he faces and earns 1st save of season in 8-5 win over Pirates affiliate (7/6/2024)
  • It’s been a little while since Angels centerfielder Kevin Pillar was called “Superman,” but nickname reemerges twice in 5-0 win over Athletics. In 1st inning, twelve-year MLB veteran steals HR from JJ Bleday by making leaping grab over wall in right-center. Then, in 4th inning, Pillar robs Bleday again, this time with diving catch of sinking liner. On other side of field, 2B Zack Gelof goes 0-for-3 with walk and stolen base (7/4/2024)
  • RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles), out with injury since May 21, comes back strong in 4-1 win over Mariners, tossing 5 scoreless innings on 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out eight batters. Kremer’s 1.09 WHIP is tied for #13 among all A.L. pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings (7/3/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) goes 3-for-4 with solo HR in 10-inning, 5-4 win over Cardinals. His diving stop of grounder with 2 outs in top of 9th inning helps preserve 3-3 tie (7/3/2024)
  • 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 3-for-4 with 2-run single, but 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) erases him twice on basepaths, both times via double play, en route to Houston’s 5-3 win in Toronto. In 1st inning, Bregman catches line drive and tags Horwitz off third base. In 4th inning, Bregman tosses ball to second base to force out Horwitz. Bregman ends day 2-for-5 at plate (7/4/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) opens scoring with solo HR in 1st inning and later adds 2 walks in 9-3 win over Dodgers. Pederson is averaging one HR every 17.3 at-bats (12 HRs in 208 ABs), good enough for #6 in National League (7/4/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) goes 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and RBI in 8-1 win over Blue Jays affiliate. Schreck continues to improve his batting average. After hitting .219 in April, .241 in May, and .303 in June, the 2023 draftee is hitting .353 through first 4 games of July (7/4/2024)
  • Max Kaufer, who served as backup catcher this season for College World Series runner-up Texas A&M University, has committed to transfer to University of South Carolina. Gamecocks made it to Regionals of 2024 championship series before losing in double elimination to James Madison University (7/4/2024)
  • 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 1-for-4 with solo HR in 7-6 win over Astros and experiences Gatorade dump during post-game interview. On other side of field, 3B Alex Bregman goes 0-for-4 (7/2/2024)
  • RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AA) makes first Double-A appearance of career, tossing scoreless inning on one hit, walk, and strikeout apiece in 4-2 loss to Phillies affiliate. In 11 appearances across 3 leagues this season — rookie, High-A, and Double-A — the 2022 draftee is 0-0 with 0.00 ERA, opponent batting average of .096, WHIP of 0.67, and 27 strikeouts across 16.1 innings (7/2/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 2-for-5 with go-ahead HR in top of 9th inning, but Dodgers rally in bottom of 9th to win 6-5 in Los Angeles. Pederson ranks #1 among Arizona teammates in OBP (.378), walk frequency (10.6%), and OPS (.885); #2 in offensive WAR (1.5); and #3 with 11 HRs (tied) and HR frequency of 4.2% (7/2/2024)
  • RHP Max Lazar (Philadelphia/AAA) earns 12th save of season in 5-3 win over Yankees affiliate, striking out one batter over perfect inning of relief. Lazar ranks #5 (tied) among all minor-league relievers with 12 saves, and among those who have tossed at least 30 innings, he ranks #1 with 0.29 ERA, 31 with 0.51 WHIP, and #3 (tied) with .108 opponent batting average (7/2/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) puts 1st-place Philadelphia ahead 2-0 with 2nd-inning double en route to 6-4 win over Cubs in Chicago (7/2/2024)
  • RHP Ben Simon (Mets/High-A) tosses 3 near-perfect innings and earns hold in 7-0, two-hit win over Yankees affiliate, yielding one hit and zero walks while striking out 3 batters amid total pitch count of 29 (7/2/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) goes 2-for-4 with go-ahead single in 6th inning and league-leading 11th HR in 9th inning, but team loses 4-3 to Blue Jays affiliate (7/2/2024)
  • After solid June in which he homers 4 times and drives in 15 runs, CF Harrison Bader (Mets) starts July on right foot, going 2-for-4 with hit-by-pitch and 12th and 13th stolen bases in 9-7, 10-inning win over Nationals. His aggressive baserunning pays off. Bader scores go-ahead run in 6th inning and another in wild 10th inning, during which New York and Washington score total of 10 runs (7/1/2024)
  • RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) shines in longest outing (tied) of career, earning third hold en route to 5-2 win over Cubs affiliate. Queens University of Charlotte alum yields 2 hits and walk over 3 scoreless innings while striking out two and erasing 2 inherited runners. And he does it all on just 33 pitches (7/1/2024)
  • Astros (3B Alex Bregman) and Blue Jays (1B Spencer Horwitz) face off in Toronto, but visitors prevail 3-0. Both men double, with Bregman going 2-for-4 with double and Horwitz 1-for-4 (7/1/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) doesn’t earn decision in 4-3, 12-inning victory over 1st-place Tigers affiliate, but his 5-inning start plays key role. Davenport yields 2 earned runs over 5 innings on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 batters. University of Hawaii alum ranks #3 in Eastern League with 2.76 ERA, and #9 with 1.18 WHIP (7/1/2024)
  • We missed this one: two Jewish collegians collect honors from National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Duke University reliever Charlie Beilenson is named to 2024 Division I All-America first team, while Texas A&M University starter Ryan Prager makes second team (6/12/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Brewers) — who is mic’d up during game — goes 1-for-4 with 2-run, 421-foot HR in 4-2 win over 2nd-place Braves. After struggling early in season, Tellez enjoys a strong June, as MLB.com notes. The 6’4″, 270-pound veteran hits .333 (22-for-66) with 3 HRs, 5 doubles, 14 RBIs, OPS of .925, and even a stolen base (6/30/2024)
  • In other sports: baseball is this website’s meat and potatoes, but we can’t hide our nachas over recent triumphs by hockey-playing Jews. As Jewish Sports Report recently noted, Zach Hyman led NHL with 16 goals during recently-ended playoffs, and his Edmonton Oilers made it to Stanley Cup finals. Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks), who led all NHL defensemen in regular-season points, became second Jewish player in 4 years to win Norris Trophy, given to league’s best defender. San Jose Sharks recently hired Ryan Warsofsky as head coach. And on June 28, Minnesota Wild selected 18-year-old University of Denver freshman Zeev Buium #12 overall in annual amateur draft. The draft’s second-youngest pick, Buium earned two 2024 awards from National Collegiate Hockey Conference, including Rookie of the Year, for which he was unanimous pick, and Offensive Defenseman of the Year (7/1/2024)
  • Toronto’s conversion of Spencer Horwitz from 1B/OF to second baseman seems to be paying off. In first 4 minor-league seasons, Horwitz made less than 2% of 404 starts at second base. During his brief 2023 debut in MLB, he never made it to that position. But MLB teams typically expect power from their first basemen and outfielders, and Horwitz is more of an on-base guy. So in 2024, Blue Jays migrated him to second base. So far, it’s looking like a good move. Since his June 7 call-up, Horwitz is hitting .315 and ranks high among all MLB batters who have come to plate at least 60 times, including #2 with 1.33 walk-to-strikeout ratio, #4 with 17.1% walk frequency, #5 with .457 OBP, and #21 (tied) with 167 WRC+, all while manning second base in 14 of 18 games. He even has teased some power, going yard twice in 6-5 loss to Guardians on June 23 (6/30/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies) earns 6th save of June and 11th of season in 6-3 win over Rays affiliate, striking out 2 over one perfect inning. Since promotion to Triple-A on May 8, the 6’1″ righthander is 2-2 with 0.47 ERA, 8 saves in 9 chances, 21 strikeouts over 19.1 combined innings, and 0.621 WHIP (6/30/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes 3-for-5 with 2-run double and 3 RBIs in 9-1 win over Twins affiliate (6/30/2024)
  • For second time in 3 seasons, brothers and fellow catchers Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) and CJ Stubbs (Nationals/AA) homer on same day, Garrett a game-tying shot in 3-2 loss to Marlins, and CJ a solo HR in 7-2 loss to Tigers affiliate. Pair accomplished same on May 22, 2022, with Garrett’s round-tripper marking his first in MLB (6/29/2024)
  • Baseball American includes three Jewish players on its 2024 College Baseball All-American Teams. Grad student Charlie Beilenson (Duke University), a RHP who struck out 92 batters over 62.2 innings and tied for #4 nationwide with 12 saves, is named to First Team. Sophomore 2B Henry Godbout (U. of Virginia), a College World Series hero who hit .372 with 9 HRs and a 1.117 OPS during regular season, is a Second Team selection. Rounding out the list is Third Team awardee Ryan Prager (Texas A&M University), a LHP who helped Aggies reach finals of College World Series and likely will be drafted in first 5 rounds of upcoming amateur draft (6/21/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) leads Oakland to 9-4, come-from-behind win over Diamondbacks, going 3-for-4 with stolen base and clinching victory with go-ahead triple in bottom of 8th inning (6/28/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) doesn’t get win in 2-1, 10-inning victory over Pirates, but he deserves much of credit. Fried yields one earned run over 6 innings on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts, thus lowering ERA to season-low 2.91 (6/29/2024)
  • OF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) starts weekend right, going 0-for-3 with 3 walks, RBI, and stolen base in 14-7 win over Athletics affiliate on June 28. A day later, Bishop goes 2-for-4 with stolen base and game-tying single en route to 12-4 loss to same team (6/29/2024)
  • None of the five Jewish position players on ballot to play in this year’s All-Star Game — OF Harrison Bader (Mets), 3B Alex Bregman (Astros), 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics), DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks), and OF Kevin Pillar (Angels) — make it past first round of fan votes. Here’s hoping Max Fried (Braves) gets nod when pitchers are selected (6/28/2024)
  • P Jared Shuster (White Sox) nets win in 1-0 victory over Braves, yielding one hit and one walk over 3 scoreless innings while fanning 2 batters. Chicago’s decision to convert 6’3″ southpaw from starter to reliever is looking smart. Shuster ended 2023 rookie season 4-3 with 5.81 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 11 starts. In 2024, he is 1-0 with 2 holds, 3.18 ERA, and 1.35 WHIP over 16 relief appearances (6/27/2024)
  • P Rob Kaminsky (Mariners/AAA) earns start in second game since signing free-agent deal with Seattle and makes most of opportunity, tossing 4 shutout innings en route to 14-2 thrashing of division-leading Astros affiliate. Kaminsky yields 5 hits and one walk while striking out 4 batters (6/26/2024)
  • P Chandler Brierley (Mariners/A), a 6’8″ southpaw appearing in 10th minor-league game, suffers among oddest meltdowns we’ve seen. Taking mound in 8th inning with team comfortably ahead 8-1, Brierley swiftly yields 6 earned runs without giving up single hit, instead walking 3 of 7 batters he faces and pegging 3 more with pitches. Team goes on to lose 9-8 when Athletics affiliate scores 2 runs in 9th inning (6/27/2024)
  • Jewish News Syndicate profiles Zack Raab, an Orthodox Jew who previously served as merchandise marketing manager for Team Israel and now works at MLB headquarters in Manhattan as senior coordinator of Minor League Baseball club services. “It gives me a smile every time I see a Team Israel hat sitting on someone’s desk in my office,” says Raab, a longtime contributor to Jewish Baseball News (6/25/2024)
  • Baseball America releases rankings of the top draft prospects among U.S. high-schoolers set to graduate in 2026, and shortstop and second baseman CJ Weinstein of Huntington Beach H.S. — “one of the most polished hitters in the country” — comes in at #13. BA isn’t alone in heaping praise on Weinstein, who attended an Israel Baseball Academy evaluation camp earlier this month. Prep Baseball Report recently ranked him the #1 second baseman nationwide in the Class of 2026 (6/27/2024)
  • Rob Friedman, whose Pitching Ninja feed on X has half a million followers, interviews high-school pitcher Levi Sterling and eight other “future aces” considered possible 1st-round picks in July’s amateur draft (6/24/2024)
  • University of Tennessee beats Texas A&M 6-5 in finals of College World Series to become 2024 National Champion. It’s heartbreaking loss for A&M (P Ryan Prager, C Max Kaufer), which rallies from 6-1 deficit in final 2 innings but falls short. A&M won first game of finals before Tennessee took two straight (6/24/2024)
  • On June 25, 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates — all 6’4″ and 270 pounds of him — records first stolen base of season and fourth of career en route to 9-5 win over Reds, ending day 2-for-4 with walk and RBI. A day later, he goes 2-for-4 with go-ahead HR in 6-1 win over Reds. Through June 26, Tellez is hitting .362 (21-for-58) this month, with 2 HRs, 5 doubles, 12 RBIs, OBP of .413, and .965 OPS (6/26/2024)
  • Today is deadline for fans to cast ballots for 2024 All-Star Game, which takes place July 16 in Arlington, TX. Five Jewish position players are on ballot: OF Harrison Bader (Mets), 3B Alex Bregman (Astros), 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics), DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks), and OF Kevin Pillar (Angels). Each fan can cast up to 5 ballots per day. Click here to participate (6/27/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) records three consecutive 2-hit games from July 23-26, going combined 6-for-12 with 2 HRs, 3 doubles, one walk, 2 stolen bases, and 3 RBIs. Mets win all three games (6/26/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) strokes career-high 4 hits in 14-7 win over Pirates affiliate, going 4-for-5 with 2 doubles, 2-run HR, and 3 RBIs. Schreck leads Northwest League in three statistical categories (10 HRs, 21.70 ABs per HR, and 1.371 walk-to-strikeout ratio), and his 36 RBIs are tied for #3 (6/25/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) is enjoying break-out month. Through June 26, 22-year-old junior-college alum is hitting .326 with 5 HRs, 12 RBIs, stolen base, and .396 OBP (6/26/2024)
  • P Ryan Prager (Texas A&M), who is expected to be selected within first few rounds of July’s amateur draft, started 4 games during College World Series, all resulting in wins. The 6’3″ southpaw ended playoffs with 1-0 record, 4.82 ERA, 2.30 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts across 18.2 innings. Prager’s best outing in tourney came in 1-0 win on June 17 over University of Kentucky, when he tossed 6.2 scoreless innings on 2 hits, one walk, one hit batter, and 4 strikeouts (6/24/2024)
  • Hank Zeisler, a 25-year-old first baseman with Florence Y’Alls of independent Frontier League, is looking for shot with an MLB franchise. Former member of University of Nevada-Las Vegas and University of Missouri teams is hitting .327 (50-for-153) with 5 HRs, 16 doubles, 4 triples, and .425 OBP. Dave Heilbrunn, head of player procurement for Y’Alls, calls Zeisler “one of the best hitters in the league, professional approach, high baseball IQ, power to all fields” (6/26/2024)
  • 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) homers twice and walks twice in 6-5 loss to Guardians, ending day 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and spectacular play in field. In 13 games since call-up, Horwitz is hitting .366 (15-for-41) with 2 HRs, 2 doubles, 5 RBIs, 9 walks, OBP of .480, and OPS of 1.041 (6/23/2024)
  • It’s a very productive day for Jewish pitchers, with five major- and minor-leaguer hurlers earnings wins: Max Fried (Braves), Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA), Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA), Scott Effross (Yankees/rehab), and Chandler Brierley (Mariners/A). All told, the fab 5 yielded just 3 earned runs across 16.1 innings (6/23/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) reaches base in all 5 plate appearances, going 4-for-4 with 2 doubles and walk in 8-1 win over Orioles. It is his second 4-hit game this month (6/23/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) improves record to 7-3 in 3-1 win over 1st-place Yankees, giving up one earned run over 6 innings on 6 hits, zero walks, and 4 strikeouts (6/23/2024)
  • Speaking of Max Fried (Braves), he is one of only 6 MLB pitchers to have earned 50+ wins since start of 2020 season. Of those, Fried has lowest ERA over that period, at 2.72 (6/23/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), batting 9th in order, goes 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, walk, and 10th stolen base of season in 5-2 win over Cubs (6/23/2024)
  • P Scott Effross (Yankees), appearing in only second game since suffering injury in October 2022, earns 5-4 win over Cardinals affiliate in rehab game with club’s Single-A team. Veteran yields one hit and zero walks over 2 scoreless innings while striking out three batters (6/23/2024)
  • MLB.com identifies CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) as one of 13 players most likely to be traded by July 30 deadline. Orioles, Tigers, and Braves — for whom he previously played — are identified as potential acquirers (6/22/2024)
  • University of Tennessee beats Texas A&M (P Ryan Prager, C Max Kaufer) by score of 4-1 in Game 2 of College World Series finals. Game 3, which will determine which team becomes National Championship, takes place June 24 at 6:00pm ET today on ESPN (6/23/2024)
  • Game between New York Boulders and New Jersey Jackals of independent Frontier League is one to remember. In third game since becoming first Israeli native to play pro ball in U.S., 3B Assaf Lowengart (Boulders) goes 2-for-4 with 3-run HR, 2-run double, stolen base, and 5 RBIs en route to 11-1 win. Lowengart’s teammate, DH David Vinsky, adds solo HR in 1-for-4 outing. On other side of field, 1B Robb Paller goes 0-for-2 with walk in Jackals debut (6/20/2024)
  • Texas A&M and starting pitcher Ryan Prager defeat #1 seed University of Tennessee 9-5 in Game 1 of College World Series finals. Prager, who discusses performance in post-game interview, yields 2 earned runs over 4 innings on 8 hits, zero walks, and 6 strikeouts. Outing could be last in Aggies uniform for Prager, who is expected to be selected within first 5 rounds of July’s MLB draft. Teammate Max Kaufer, a sophomore catcher, has not appeared in playoffs. Game 2 of three-game series takes place at 2:00pm ET today on ABC. National championship would be Texas A&M’s first (6/22/2024)
  • P Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/High-A) delivers 2 innings of no-hit relief in 2-1, extra-inning loss to Pirates affiliate, walking one batter and striking out four. In 7 scoreless innings over 4 games since promotion, righthander has given up only one hit while striking out 12 batters (6/22/2024)
  • P Harrison Cohen (Yankees/High-A) makes quick work of opposition in 2024 debut, a rookie-league rehab assignment against Blue Jays affiliate. Undrafted free agent out of George Washington U. tosses scoreless inning, striking out one batter and retiring side on just 5 pitches en route to 8-1 win (6/21/2024)
  • DH Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) goes 1-for-4 with solo HR in 8-0 win over Mets affiliate, his 8th round-tripper in 137 at-bats. Among South Atlantic League batters with at least 100 ABs, Dissin’s ratio of one dinger every 17.12 ABs ranks #8 (6/22/2024)
  • P Rob Kaminsky (Mariners/AAA) tosses scoreless inning in 8-2 win over Athletics affiliate, his 2024 debut and first appearance since signing free-agent deal with Mariners. Kaminsky yields zero hits and 2 walks while striking out two batters (6/21/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) homers for third straight game, going 2-for-4 with 2-run, game-tying shot in 7th inning, but Royals prevail 3-2. Gelof thus becomes the 40th hitter to homer in 3+ consecutive games this season (6/20/2023)
  • DH Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) continues to produce, going 2-for-5 with HR, triple, walk, and 3 RBIs in 11-10, come-from-behind win over Astros affiliate. Goosenberg ranks #5 (tied) in South Atlantic League with 40 RBIs and #15 (tied) with 123 wRC+, but he also ranks #9 with 32.0% strikeout rate (6/20/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) has 13 RBIs through the first 20 days of June, tying him for #9 among N.L. batters (6/20/2024)
  • Cole “CJ” Weinstein is one of 40 members of high-school Class of 2026 who stood out at Perfect Game’s Junior National Showcase in Georgia on June 8-12, according to Baseball America. “There aren’t many hitters in the 2026 class more polished than Weinstein,” BA writes. Weinstein, a SS/2B at Huntington Beach H.S. in California, is ranked the country’s best second baseman in 2026 class by Prep Baseball Report (see video). Weinstein attended an Israel Baseball Academy evaluation camp in Los Angeles on June 1-2 (6/20/2024)
  • Mazel tov to LHP Rob Kaminsky, who signed minor-league contract with Seattle Mariners on June 17 and joined club’s Triple-A team on June 18. Kaminsky, who pitched for Cardinals in 2020, spent 2023 season in Seattle’s farm system before declaring free agency in November (6/18/2024)
  • Levi Sterling, a 17-year-old pitcher at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif., is named a 2024 High School All-American, Second Team, by Baseball America. BA ranks Sterling #54 in its most recent list of 2024 Top MLB Draft Prospects (6/20/2024)
  • Texas A&M (P Ryan Prager, C Max Kaufer) advances to finals of College World Series with 6-0 win over University of Florida. Team will square off against University of Tennessee at 7:30pm ET on June 23 (ESPN) in first game of best-of-three series (6/19/2024)
  • P Scott Effross (Yankees), playing for first time since suffering injury in October 2022, tosses 6-pitch perfect inning with one strikeout in rehab game with club’s Single-A team (6/19/2023)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) goes 1-for-4 and homers for second straight game in 5-1 victory over Royals, a 434-foot shot to dead center (6/19/2024)
  • 2B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 2-for-4 with walk in 7-3 loss to Red Sox. In 10 games since June 7 call-up, he is hitting .353 (12-for-34) with 3 RBIs and .450 OBP (6/19/2024)
  • After hitting .192 in April and .143 in May, 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) is finally finding his stride. Burly infielder is hitting .421 (16-for-38) in June, with a HR, 5 doubles, 9 RBIs, and a 1.095 OPS (6/19/2024)
  • LHP Chandler Brierley (Mariners/A), a 6’8″ reliever who has struggled in first season of affiliated ball, throws scoreless inning in 7-3 loss to Giants affiliate, yielding no hits or walks, hitting one batter, and striking out two (6/19/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A), a 2023 draftee, is named Northwest League Player of the Week for June 10-16 after hitting .438 (7-for-16) with 2 HRs, 2 doubles, one HBP, one walk, and 5 RBIs. Schreck is drawing 1.33 walks for every strikeout, ranking him #6 among all minor-league hitters. He also ranks high among hitters in Northwest League, where he is tied for #1 with 9 HRs, tied for #2 with 8 HBPs, and tied for #6 with 31 RBIs (6/18/2024)
  • LHP Ryan Prager (Texas A&M) is star of 5-1 win over University of Kentucky in quarterfinals of College World Series, pitching 6.2 innings of 2-hit ball while walking one batter and striking out four. Winner of June 19 game between Texas A&M and either University of Kentucky or University of Florida will advance to semifinals (6/17/2024)
  • SS Assaf Lowengart (New York Boulders) makes professional debut, going 1-for-2 with double, walk, and stolen base in 4-3, extra-inning win over New Jersey Jackals of independent Frontier League. Lowengart thus becomes first native Israeli to play professional baseball in United States. He joins LF David Vinsky on Boulders roster (6/18/2024)
  • P Scott Effross (Yankees), out with injury since October 3, 2022, begins rehab assignment today with Single-A team (6/19/2023)
  • Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus replaces Aaron Boone as team’s manager for part of today’s game, thus enabling Boone to attend son’s graduation, and New York goes on to beat Orioles 4-2. Ausmus, who served as manager of Tigers from 2014-17 and Angels in 2019, thus becomes first Jewish manager in Yankees history (6/18/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) provides Oakland with margin of victory in 7-5 win over Royals, going 2-for-4 with 3-run HR and stolen base (6/18/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) earns 5th save of month in 9-5 victory over Orioles affiliate, tossing scoreless inning on one HBP and 3 strikeouts. His 10 saves across Triple-A and Double-A are tied for #6 among all minor-league pitchers (6/18/2024)
  • RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/High-A) struggles in first start since promotion to High-A. Third-round pick out of high school in 2021 draft is pulled after just 0.2 innings en route to 6-0 loss to Mariners affiliate. Among those Steinmetz faces is LF RJ Schreck, who is hit by pitch (6/18/2024)
  • RHP Jake Bird (Rockies), playing for first time in month due to injury, tosses scoreless inning, yielding a hit and walk while striking out 2 in 9-5 loss to Dodgers. Among all MLB pitchers who have thrown at least 20 innings this season, Bird’s walk-to-strikeout ratio of 1.14 ranks third worst (6/17/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies) delivers both offense and defense in 6-1 win over Nationals affiliate, going 1-for-2 with HBP and solo HR and erasing attempted theft at second base. Dissin has homered in 3 of last 5 games and is hitting .346 in June (6/16/2024)
  • University of Virginia exits from College World Series after losing 7-3 to Florida State University in quarterfinals. On bright side, Virginia 2B Henry Godbout has another strong outing, going 2-for-4 with RBI single and walk. Over 8 playoff games, sophomore hits .348 (8-for-23) with 2 HRs, 7 RBIs, and 3 walks (6/16/2024)
  • Texas A&M meets University of Kentucky today at 7pm ET on ESPN in College World Series quarterfinals. LHP Ryan Prager and C Max Kaufer, both at A&M, are only Jewish players remaining in Series (6/17/2024)
  • In first outing since suffering injury in early May, P Ben Simon (Mets/High-A) throws scoreless inning of relief, yielding one walk and no hits in 8-7, extra-inning loss to Yankees affiliate (6/16/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) opens scoring with 2-run double but is thrown out trying to stretch hit into triple en route to 12-5 win over White Sox at home. He finishes day 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs and 2 walks (6/16/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) goes 3-for-5 with 2-run single in 8-2 win over Rockies. He is hitting .419 in June, with one HR, 9 RBIs, and 1.052 OPS (6/16/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) homers for second straight game and fourth time in June on way to 8-5 win over Giants affiliate, ending day 1-for-2 with HBP and one RBI
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) hits go-ahead double in 2nd inning, but Twins edge out Oakland 8-7 (6/16/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 2-for-4 with double, stolen base, and one RBI in 11-6 win over Padres (6/16/)24)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 0-for-4 in 4-1 win over Tigers, ending his hitting streak at 16 games (6/16/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) open scoring with RBI triple, and Houston goes on to defeat Tigers 4-0 at Minute Maid Park on June 14. A day later, Bregman strokes single and draws walk to extend hitting streak to 16 games (6/15/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) earns 4th save of month in 4-2 victory over Mets affiliate, tossing scoreless inning on one hit and 2 strikeouts. His 9 saves — in 9 chances — are tied for #7 among all minor-league pitchers (6/15/2024)
  • Texas A&M (P Ryan Prager, C Max Kaufer) defeats University of Florida 3-2 in quarterfinals of College World Series. Meanwhile, 2B Henry Godbout (University of Virginia) reaches singles and draws walk, but team loses 3-2 to University of North Carolina (6/15/2024)
  • June 18 will see two Jewish Heritage Celebrations. Phillies and C Garrett Stubbs will host their 15th annual celebration at 6:40pm ET against San Diego Padres. Meanwhile, P Max Lazar and Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate, will host celebration at 7:05pm ET against Baltimore Orioles’ affiliate. For tickets, click here (6/16/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) opens scoring with solo HR in 2nd inning and hits game-tying double in 6th inning en route to 7-3 win over Giants affiliate (6/15/2024)
  • DH Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) hits 2-run, game-tying double in 3rd inning en route to 6-3 win over Pirates affiliate. Goosenberg’s 34 RBIs are tied for #8 in South Atlantic League, and he is one of only 4 players in league who has at least 30 RBIs and 10 or more stolen bases (6/15/2024)
  • CF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) goes 2-for-4 with solo HR and walk in 10-7 loss to Diamondbacks affiliate (6/14/2024
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 2-for 4 with RBI single, walk, and grand-slam HR in 11-1 rout of Angels. On other side of field, LF Kevin Pillar goes 0-for-3. Pederson’s 430-foot grand slam is Pederson’s third career shot and first since 2017 (6/13/2024)
  • Could things be looking up for P Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/High-A)? Thanks to injuries, righthander has appeared in a mere 14 games since New York picked him in 5th round of 2022 draft, including 12 at rookie-league level. Today, Reyzelman’s first game in High-A, Louisiana State U. alum throws 2 perfect innings and strikes out 4 in 6-0 shutout of Mets affiliate (6/13/2024)
  • U. of Virginia (2B Henry Godbout) takes on U. of North Carolina today in quarterfinals of College World Series. Watch it at 2pm ET on ESPN (6/13/2024)
  • 2B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA), back at Triple-A for first time since suffering injury nearly 2 months ago, hits solo HR and strikes out 3 times in 9-6 loss to Guardians affiliate (6/13/2024)
  • RHP Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) tosses 8 scoreless innings on just 77 pitches in 1-0 win over Rockies affiliate, yielding 4 hits and zero walks while allowing no runners to reach third base. It’s the longest start by an Akron RubberDucks pitcher in 7 years, and the longest scoreless one in 9 years. Davenport’s turnaround has been remarkable. In 2023, the U. of Hawaii alumni went 6-10 with 5.73 ERA and 1.52 WHIP for Cleveland’s High-A team. This season, the player dubbed “the best hair in baseball” has 5-1 record, ranks #2 in Eastern League with 1.77 ERA, and sits at #1 with 1.00 WHIP (6/12/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) opens scoring with 2-run, 431-foot HR en route to 10-4 win over Marlins in New York. He ends day 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs (6/12/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) tosses scoreless 9th inning in 5-3 win over Mets affiliate, earning 8th save of season and 5th since promotion to Triple-A (6/12/2024)
  • DH Zach Levenson (Cardinals/High-A) goes 3-for-5 with solo HR and double in 6-2 win over Cubs affiliate (6/12/2024)
  • Two-run single by 3B Alex Bregman in 5th inning leads to 3-1 win over Giants. Go-ahead shot extends hitting streak to 13 games, during which Bregman has hit .353 (18-for-51) with 5 HRs, 11 RBIs, and 1.136 OPS. His streak is 16th-longest in MLB so far this season. CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) is tied for #11, with 14-game streak that ended June 1 (6/11/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) will be seeing more playing time in coming month now that starting catcher JT Realmuto has decided to undergo knee surgery. According to The Athletic, first-place Philadelphia is banking on Stubbs — winner of the 2015 Johnny Bench Award for the nation’s best college catcher — to continue delivering premium defense. “Any offensive contribution is a bonus” (6/11/2024)
  • Resurgent centerfielder Kevin Pillar (Angels) says he hopes to play for Israel someday and realizes he has “become a little bit more of an idol, a folk hero for the Jewish community.” Twelve-year MLB veteran also tells JTA “it’s just been a cool thing to be able to tap into a different part of me that I didn’t really understand the importance and the value of” (6/11/2024)
  • 2B/1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays) goes 2-for-4 with walk and first RBI of MLB season in 3-0 win over Brewers. In 4 games since call-up, Horwitz is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with .471 OBP (6/11/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A), batting ninth in order, homers for second straight game, going 2-for-5 with grand-slam, go-ahead HR en route to 5-4 win over Nationals affiliate (6/11/2024)
  • P Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) earns 2nd save of season with perfect 9th inning in 5-2 win over Cubs affiliate. Teammate Zach Levenson goes 1-for-4 with RBI triple and walk (6/11/2024)
  • If a “4A” player is one who performs well at Triple-A level but can’t hack it in Majors, what do you call a player who underperforms in minors until he is promoted to Triple-A? OF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA), who goes 4-for-7 this weekend with home run, 2 walks, double, and 4 RBIs, is among the latter. Bishop’s .242 average in Double-A this season was a career high since being selected #10 overall in 2019 draft, but it is nothing compared to his performance since Triple-A promotion on May 14. Since then, Arizona State alum has hit .310 (26-for-99) with 3 HRs, 16 RBIs, .384 OBP, and .884 OPS (6/10/2024)
  • OF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) is drawing 1.21 walks for every one strikeout, ranking him #2 in Northwest League (6/10/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) extends hit streak to 11 games with go-ahead double in 3rd inning but leaves in 6th inning of 9-7 loss to Angels and RF Kevin Pillar after being struck on left hand by 93.4-mph sinker. X-rays prove negative, but Bregman is listed as day-to-day (6/9/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics), who grew up in Rehoboth Beach, Del., is inducted into Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Gelof’s parents accept honor on his behalf (6/9/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels), who goes 2-for-4 with double and HBP, is hitting .381 since joining Los Angeles on May 1, #2 in MLB behind Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge over that stretch (6/9/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) goes 4-for-7 this weekend with home run, double, walk, and 3 RBIs (6/9/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) hits 2-run, go-ahead single in six-run 2nd inning en route to 9-3 win over Padres (6/9/2024)
  • 2B Henry Godbout (U. of Virginia) is Game 1 hero in Super Regional series against Kansas State U., hitting 3-run HR in 7th inning to break 4-4 tie, clinch 7-4 comeback win, and earn tweet declaring round-tripper “Godbout’s Plan!” A Game 2 victory June 8 on ESPN2 would send Virginia to quarterfinals of College World Series, the annual competition to determine national champion among Division 1 schools. Through first 4 games of CWS, the 6’2″ sophomore is hitting .308 (4-for-13) with 2 HRs, 3 walks, and 6 RBIs (6/7/2024)
  • 1B/2B/DH Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA), who made MLB debut in 2023 but hasn’t played in Majors since September 21, is called up by Toronto. Horwitz ranks among International League leaders in multiple offensive categories, including #1 with 22 doubles, #2 with .456 OBP, #3 (tied) with .335 batting average, #7 with 1.07 walk-to-strikeout ratio, #7 with .970 OPS, and #4 in weighted runs created plus (wRC+), a statistic some experts consider among best measures of a player’s total offensive value (6/7/2024)
  • Three games involving 5 Jewish players will take place today in Super Regionals of College World Series. At 12pm on ESPNU, U. of Georgia (LHP Charlie Goldstein, RHP Brian Zeldin) faces North Carolina State in Game 1 of their 3-game series. At 2pm on ESPN2, Texas A&M (LHP Ryan Prager, C Max Kaufer) takes on U. of Oregon in Game 1. And at 8pm on ESPNU, U. of Virginia (2B Henry Godbout) meets up with Kansas State (P Adam Arther) in Game 2 (6/8/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) must have ants in his pants. Younger brother of 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) stole 5 bases in first 47 games of season. Then, he stole 3 bases on June 5 and another 2 on June 7 (6/7/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) delivers game-tying HR in 2nd inning of 7-1 loss to Astros, ending day 2-for-4. On other side of field, 3B Alex Bregman goes 2-for-4 with walk (6/7/2024)
  • 2B Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) goes 2-for-4 with 8th-inning triple triple and RBI single in 12th inning of 5-3 win over 1st-place Braves affiliate. Goosenberg ranks #6 in South Atlantic League with 31 RBIs (6/7/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) delivers 2-run home run and injury-defying catch in 8-3 win over Twins affiliate (6/6/2024)
  • Two Jewish players will face off tonight in the College World Series. In Game 1 of a Super Regional series, the University of Virginia (INF Henry Godbout) will battle Kansas State University (LHP Adam Arthur) on ESPNU (6/7/2024)
  • When MLB announced May 29 that it was finally incorporating statistics from seven different Negro Leagues into its record books, Hall of Fame player Josh Gibson was credited with 174 career HRs, despite reports of having hit as many as 962 against all competition. That is the same number of Major League home runs hit to date by Astros 3B Alex Bregman (6/6/2024)
  • In interview with FanGraphs, LHP Max Fried (Braves) talks about having 7 different pitches and says he misses hitting “a ton.” In 2021, the last year before the NL allowed designated hitters, Fried led all pitchers with .273 batting average and 77 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), a statistic some experts consider to be among the best measures of a player’s total offensive value (7/7/2024)
  • RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/A) delivers another strong start, giving up one earned run on just 3 hits and a walk over 7 innings while striking out 4. He doesn’t get get credit for win in 2-1, 10-inning victory over Dodgers affiliate (6/6/2024)
  • OF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) goes 3-for-4 with RBI single in 4-2 win over Rockies affiliate (6/6/2024)
  • RF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) reaches base 4 times, drives in 2 runs, and draws go-ahead walk in 10-6 win over Mariners franchise. Mendlinger ends day 1-for-2 with single, 2 walks, and hit-by-pitch. His 7 HBPs are tied for #6 among all Texas League batters (6/6/2024)
  • Five Jewish position players are on the ballot to play in this year’s All-Star Game, which takes place July 16 in Arlington, TX: OF Harrison Bader (Mets), 3B Alex Bregman (Astros), 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics), DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks), and OF Kevin Pillar (Angels). The first phase of fan voting occurs from June 5 to June 27, and each fan can cast up to 5 ballots per day. The Home Run Derby will take place July 15. Click here to cast votes (6/6/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) opens scoring with 107.2-mph, solo HR in 3rd inning and ends day 2-for-3 with stolen base in 2-1 win over Mariners in Oakland (6/5/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 1-for-3 with 3 RBIs in 9-1 drubbing of Nationals, contributing 2-run double and sacrifice fly in Washington, DC (6/5/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) earns save for second straight game in 3-1 win over Blue Jays affiliate, tossing perfect 9th inning with one strikeout. On other side of field, 2B Spencer Horwitz goes 1-for-2 with triple and 2 walks. Lazar’s 7 saves across Triple-A and Double-A are tied for #12 among all minor leaguers (6/5/2024)
  • Batting cleanup, LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) goes 2-for-4 and homers for 3rd game in his last 7, but Blue Jays affiliate prevails 12-3 (6/5/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) strikes out career-high 13 batters in 8-3 win over Red Sox, yielding 2 earned runs on 4 hits and one walk over 7 innings. Fried thus becomes one of only 4 MLB pitchers this season to fan at least 13 batters over 7 or fewer innings. In last 10 starts, he is 6-2 with 1.83 ERA and has held opposing batters to a .479 OPS (6/4/2024)
  • 2024 has been breakout season for Phillies prospect Max Lazar, who has split time evenly between Triple-A and Double-A. Among all minor-leaguers with at least 20 innings pitched, Lazar ranks #1 with 0.44 WHIP, #4 with .101 opponent batting average, #5 with 14.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and #9 (tied) with 0.44 ERA (6/4/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) opens scoring with 2-run HR in 4th inning and ends day 2-for-4 in 6-3 win over Nationals (6/4/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) tosses perfect 9th inning with 2 strikeouts to earn 6th save in 5-3 win over Blue Jays. On other side of field, 2B Spencer Horwitz goes 1-for-4 with double and walk (6/4/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) hits game-tying HR in 8th inning, en route to 7-4 win over Cardinals. He has homered in 5 of last 7 games (6/3/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) fails to reach base in 8-7 win over Nationals but manages to drive in 2 runs, thanks to 2 sacrifice flies (6/3/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) amasses 5 hits for third time in minor-league career, going 5-for-6 with 2-run HR, 2 doubles, and 6 RBIs in 13-5 victory over Mets affiliate on June 1. A day later, Horwitz — this time playing second base — goes 1-for-2 with solo HR and walk in 7-1 loss to same team. Horwitz ranks #3 among International League batters with .332 average, #2 with .465 OBP, #9 (tied) with 38 RBIs, and #1 in weighted runs created plus (wRC+), a statistic some experts consider to be among the best measures of a player’s total offensive value (6/2/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) throw 2 perfect innings of relief and strikes out 4 batters to earn win in 10-inning, 8-6 victory over Guardians affiliate. In 7 appearances since promotion from Double-A, where he earned 3 saves, produced 18 strikeouts against zero walks, and maintained 0.00 ERA over 10.1 combined innings, Lazar is 1-1 in Triple-A, with 2 saves and 1.00 ERA over combined 9 innings (6/1/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) goes 3-for-4 with double, walk, and 4 RBIs, but team falls short in 5-4 loss to Blue Jays (6/2/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and homers for 4th game in last six, but team loses 4-3 to Twins on June 2. A day earlier, Bregman goes 2-for-4 with double in 5-2 win over same team
  • In second game of rehab assignment after coming off injured list, P Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/Rookie League), tosses 2 perfect innings of relief and strikes out 4 batters in 3-1 loss to Phillies affiliate (6/1/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) opens scoring with 2-run HR and follows with triple en route to 4-0 win over Mariners on May 30. A day later, he hits solo HR in 6-1 loss to Twins, giving him 6 HRs in May after hitting zero in March and one in April. Bregman and 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) are two of only 16 Majors Leaguers to homer and triple in same game this season (5/31/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) opens scoring with RBI single in 1st inning and powers 3-run, 110.3-mph HR in 9th inning, but Mets hold on to beat Arizona 10-9. Pederson also steals 2nd base of season and reaches base on catcher’s interference (5/31/2024)
  • P Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/A) yields one earned run on 7 hits and zero walks over 7 innings and strikes out career-high 9 batters in 11-2 win over Angels affiliate. Though win is only Steinmetz’s 3rd against 20 losses over 4-year career, the 6’6″ orthodox Jewish hurler has tallied personal bests with 3.92 ERA, 1.538 WHIP, team-leading 3.5 walks per 9 innings, and 10.6 strikeouts per 9 innings (5/30/2024)
  • Atlanta Jewish Times profiles Blue Jays prospect Spencer Horwitz, who is gunning to make it back to the big leagues this season (5/29/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) homers for second straight at-bat in 4-3 win over Reds affiliate, opening scoring with 2-run shot in 1st inning and singling-in the winning run in top of 10th inning. The first baseman had homered in final at-bat on May 28. Mervis is averaging one round-tripper every 12 at-bats and is tied for #8 in International League with 11 HRs (5/29/2024)
  • Israel Baseball announces its first-ever Fantasy Camp for Jewish baseball fans, a week-long event in November at the Miami Marlins’ Spring Training complex in Jupiter, FL. Among the retired Jewish pros leading the camp will be Kevin Youkilis, Gabe Kapler, Ian Kinsler, Danny Valencia, Jason Marquis, and Ryan Lavarnway. Package includes hotel, dinner events, daily workouts and games, uniform, and more (5/29/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) throws 8 scoreless innings in 2-0 win over Nationals, allowing 7 hits and one walk while striking out 6 and lowering season ERA to 2.97. Fried also picks off runner attempting to steal 2nd base (5/28/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels), batting cleanup, goes 3-for-4 with 2-run, go-ahead HR in 4-3 win over Yankees in Anaheim. Since joining Los Angeles on May 1, Pillar has scorched ball. He leads all Major League hitters in May with .431 batting average, ranks #3 with 1.218 OPS, and is tied for #6 with 20 RBIs (5/28/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 with 2-run, go-ahead HR in 4th inning, but Houston loses 4-2 to Mariners (5/28/2024)
  • P Jared Shuster (White Sox) tosses 3 scoreless innings of relief in 5-1 loss to Blue Jays, allowing one hit and 2 walks while striking out one batter. In 9 appearances, Shuster is 0-0 with 2 holds, 2.70 ERA, and 1.07 WHIP (5/27/2024)
  • On May 27, we told you about Levi Sterling, a high-school pitcher projected to be a 2nd- or 3rd-round pick in July’s annual MLB Draft. Today, we introduce you to 21-year-old southpaw Ryan Prager, the ace of the nation’s 4th-ranked D-1 team, Texas A&M. According to MLB.com, which ranks him the country’s #54 draft prospect. Prager “doesn’t light up radar guns” but has an “unhittable” fastball and deceptive delivery. Baseball America includes Prager a little lower among its Top Draft Picks, at #93. But in April, USA Baseball placed him on the midseason watch list for its 2024 Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation’s best amateur player. You can watch Prager’s scouting video here (5/28/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) ties game twice en route to 4-3 win over Giants, including 2-run double in bottom of 9th inning that evens score at 3-3. He ends day 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and career-best .279 batting average. Bader — who ranks among top 3 MLB centerfielders in several defensive categories this season, including sabermetric measures such as Statcast Fielding Run Value, Statcast Outs Above Average, and Total Zone Runs — also robs 3B Matt Chapman of HR in 6th inning (5/26/2024)
  • RBI single by C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) gives 1st-place Philadelphia a 4-3 lead on way to 8-4 win over Rockies. He ends day 2-for-4 at plate and throws out one of four attempted base-stealers (5/25/2024)
  • RF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) hits 2-run, go-ahead double en route to 8-7 win over Dodgers affiliate, ending day 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs (5/25/2024)
  • RF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) goes 1-for-2 with solo HR and walk in 8-2 loss to Rays affiliate. His 7 HRs are tied for #4 in South Atlantic League, and his 28 RBIs are tied for #3 (5/26/2024)
  • As MLB’s amateur draft nears, keep an eye on 2 Jewish pitchers who are ranked by Baseball America and MLB.com to be among the Top 100 draft prospects. Today, we introduce you to Levi Sterling, a 17-year-old Californian who plays for Team USA (18U) and has committed to U. of Texas. According to Baseball America, which ranks him #38, Sterling’s fastball has hit 94-mph and is likely to have “significantly more velocity to come.” MLB.com, which ranks Sterling #46, says the 6’4″ righthander also plays shortstop but that “it’s his upside on the bump that has the industry excited.” No wonder Prep Baseball ranks Sterling the #2 pitching prospect in California among members of the Class of 2024 . You can watch Sterling’s scouting video here. Tomorrow: the #1 starter on a top-ranked D-1 team (5/27/2024)
  • Auschwitz survivor Viola “Ibi” Baras throws out ceremonial first pitch May 5 before Rays-Yankees game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. “I hope that everybody’s going to be happy” in the future, she tells a reporter. “No hate, no prejudice, no nothing. Only good things.” Days later, son and accordionist David Baras helps lead synagogue band in impromptu performance of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at Friday night service (5/5/2024)
  • It’s not too late to celebrate Jewish Heritage Night at Texas home of Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros/AAA) and P Colton Gordon on May 26. Click here to buy tickets and enjoy fireworks and kosher food (5/25/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA) raises record to 5-3 in 6-2 win over Rockies affiliate, yielding 2 earned runs on 6 hits and one walk over 8 innings while striking out 2. Outing lowers season ERA to 3.02 and WHIP to 1.20 (5/24/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) tosses 2 scoreless innings on one hit, no walks, and 2 strikeouts in 5-2 win over Nationals affiliate. In 13 relief appearances across AA and AAA this season, 24-year-old righty is 0-1 with 0.55 ERA, 5 saves, 25 strikeouts, and 2 walks. His 0.49 WHIP ranks #7 among all minor-league pitchers who have thrown at least 10 innings (5/24/2024)
  • P Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/A) yields one earned run over 6 solid innings, but team goes on to lose 3-2 to Rockies affiliate. The 6’6″ righty gives up 8 hits and zero walks while striking out 7 batters (5/23/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) has drawn 28 walks this season against 18 strikeouts. His 1.56 walk-to-strikeout ratio ranks #5 among all minor-league batters with at least 100 plate appearances (5/24/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) hits 2-run, go-ahead single in 4th inning, but Houston ends up on wrong end of 6-3 loss to Athletics. On other side of field, 2B Zack Gelof goes 0-for-4 (5/24/2024)
  • CF Dalton Guthrie (Red Sox/AAA) goes 3-for-5 with RBI in 9-5 loss to Orioles affiliate (5/24/2024)
  • In second start since tossing 7 no-hit innings against Mets on May 11, P Max Fried (Braves) carries perfect game into 6th inning, ending day with complete-game, 9-2 win over Cubs. All-Star yields one earned run on 3 hits, no walks, and 2 wild pitches while striking out nine batters. Outing marks just seventh time in 2024 — including twice by Fried — that an MLB pitcher has earned complete-game win on 105 or fewer pitches. Best of the seven was Fried’s own 92-pitch win on April 23 (5/22/2024)
  • P Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) throws 2 perfect innings of relief and strikes out 4 batters in 10-inning, 8-6 loss to Twins affiliate. Defeat comes despite 2-run, go-ahead HR in 5th inning by teammate Zach Levenson (5/21/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) extends hitting streak to 8 games in 6-5 loss to Astros, hitting go-ahead HR in 7th inning and drawing walk to end day 1-for-4. On other side of field, 3B Alex Bregman goes 0-for-5 (5/21/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) reaches base 3 times in 6-3 loss to 1st-place Guardians, going 1-for-3 with solo HR, walk, hit-by-pitch, and stolen base (5/22/2024)
  • Batting cleanup in 4-1 win over Rays affiliate, LF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) goes 2-for-3 with go-ahead HR and walk. He leads team in multiple stats, including 6 HRs (tied), 12 doubles, 9 stolen bases, 27 RBIs, slugging percentage of .489, and .842 OPS (5/22/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 2-for-5 with 3-run HR in 7-3 win over Dodgers (5/21/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) comes to plate with 2 outs in bottom of 9th inning, 2 men on base, and team down 9-7 after leading 6-1. Crowd at Houston’s Minute Maid Park roars when Bregman launches fly ball toward left-center, but Angels CF Kevin Pillar catches it to end game. Pillar finishes day 2-for-5 with double, while Bregman goes 0-for-4 (5/20/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) has achieved several statistical milestones this week. In 4-1 win over Rangers on May 19, he scored 500th run and notched 1,000th hit of career. And in 7-2 win over Cardinals on May 15, he stole 100th base. Pillar is one of only 19 active players to hit all 3 targets — a group that includes injured Angels CF Mike Trout, whom Pillar replaced May 1 (5/19/2024)
  • We missed it: C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) had quite a game May 13. Reserve catcher opened scoring in 1st inning with perfectly executed suicide-squeeze bunt, then stole second. Later, when OF Harrison Bader (Mets) singled to open 6th inning and then tried to steal second base, Stubbs threw bullet to erase threat. Philadelphia went on to win 5-4. Thanks to JTA for alerting us (5/13/2024)
  • OF Kevin Pillar (Angels) continues to crush it with new team. His 2-run, pinch-hit single in 7th inning puts Los Angeles ahead 3-1 en route to 4-1 victory over Rangers. Pillar has 16 RBIs so far this month, tying him for #5 among all MLB hitters (5/19/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 1-for-5 with 2-run single and stolen base in 10-inning, 10-9 loss to Marlins on May 18. A day later, Bader helps New York get revenge, going 2-for-4 with another 2-run single en route to 7-3 win (5/19/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs in 6-4 win over Tigers, stroking RBI double to open scoring in 1st inning and adding RBI single in 2nd inning (5/19/2024)
  • It’s too soon to tell, but maybe P Jared Shuster (White Sox) was meant to be in the bullpen. In 3 starts with Triple-A team this season, Shuster went 0-1 with 6.39 ERA and 1.342 WHIP. But in 7 relief appearances in Majors, the 6’3″ southpaw has 2.00 ERA and 0.833 WHIP, thanks in part to throwing 2 perfect innings of relief May 19 in 7-2 loss to Yankees (5/19/2024)
  • P Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) tosses 5 shutout innings in 6-2 loss to Pirates affiliate, giving up only 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6. The 2021 draftee leads all Eastern League starters with 1.66 ERA and ranks #5 with 1.02 WHIP (5/19/2024)
  • SS Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) goes combined 4-for-8 with 2 doubles and a walk between May 18 loss to Red Sox affiliate and May 19 win over same team. Goosenberg is tied for #1 in South Atlantic League with 12 doubles and tied for #4 with 26 RBIs (5/19/2024)
  • Mazel tov to Steve Oshinsky, head coach of J.V. baseball team at Seaholm H.S., who recently notched his 200th career win at the Michigan school (5/19/2024)
  • Jews with gloves: 3B Alex Bregman doesn’t just contribute single and double in 8-1 win over Athletics on May 16. He also makes spectacular, run-saving play to end 6th inning and preserve 8-0 lead. A day earlier, Athletics 2B Zack Gelof makes diving stop to rob Houston 2B Jose Altuve of hit (5/16/2024)
  • Theft by OF Kevin Pillar (Angels) on May 15 launches him into elite club: players with 100+ HRs and 100+ stolen bases. Only 20 active athletes and 278 overall — including 63 Hall of Famers — have achieved feat, separating them from the more than 22,000 in Major League history who haven’t. Pillar stroked 100th HR, a pinch-hit, go-ahead shot in May 2023 (5/15/2024)
  • Check out our list of 33 Jewish Heritage Nights scheduled to be held at pro stadiums this season, along with links to tickets. Next on list: May 19 at Heritage Financial Park in Fishkill, NY, home of Yankees’ High-A team (5/18/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), who enters game as pinch-runner, ends up 2-for-2 at plate with double and game-tying single in 8th inning en route to 11-inning, 6-5 win over Phillies (5/16/2024)
  • OF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA) is hitting .438 (7-for-16) with 1.313 OPS in four games since promotion to Triple-A. Bishop’s 2 HRs and 6 RBIs for 1st-place Sacramento River Cats already match his production in 95 at-bats with Double-A team (5/17/2024)
  • P Dylan Banner (SUNY-Albany) helps team remain in contention for final playoff spot with 6-3 gem over U. of Maine . A 6’5″ sophomore, Banner yields one earned run over 8 innings on just 2 his and no walks while striking out 10 (5/16/2024)
  • Two Jewish prospects in Cardinals’ system come up big in 1-0 win over Tigers High-A affiliate. Backed by LF Zach Levenson’s 6th-inning home run, teammate Tanner Jacobson tosses scoreless inning of relief to earn first save of season (5/14/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (Angels) continues hot streak with new team. On May 14, he goes 3-for-5 with RBI single in 7-6 to Cardinals. Switching to right field on May 15, Pillar, goes 2-for-3 with RBI single and stolen base in 7-2 win over St. Louis. Since debut with L.A. on May 1, 35-year-old is hitting .455 (15-for-33), tied for #2 in MLB with 14 RBIs in month of May, and tied for #3 in MLB with 1.289 OPS (5/15/2014)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 and homers for second straight game, an 8th-inning solo shot that breaks scoreless tie en route to 2-1 win over Athletics in Houston. On other side of field, 2B Zack Gelof goes 0-for-4 at plate (5/14/2024)
  • P Jared Shuster (White Sox) contributes to 2-0 shutout of Nationals, tossing 2 perfect innings of relief with one strikeout. In 4 games since rejoining Chicago from Triple-A, Shuster is 0-0 with 2 holds and 2.79 ERA, and he has held opposing batters to .143 batting average and .468 OPS (5/15/2024)
  • In third appearance since promotion to Triple-A, P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) earns second straight save, furnishing perfect inning of relief in 5-3 win over Orioles affiliate (5/15/2024)
  • P Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) delivers another strong outing in 2-1 win over Pirates affiliate, allowing only 3 baserunners and one earned run over 7 innings while striking out six. In 7 starts, the 2021 draft pick is 3-0, ranks #3 among Eastern League pitchers with 1.88 ERA, and is tied for #4 with 1.04 WHIP (5/15/2024)
  • CF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AAA), playing in second game since promotion from Dougle-A, drives in 3 of team’s runs in 4-1 victory over Dodgers affiliate, going 2-for-4 with 2-run HR and RBI single (5/15/2024)
  • Three Jewish major leaguers combine for 4 HRs on Monday. 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 3-for-3 with 2 HRs, walk, and 4 RBIs in 9-2 win over Athletics, the sixth 2-homer game of his career and first since October 2022. CF Kevin Pillar (Angels), batting cleanup for only 10th time in 982 MLB starts, goes 2-for-4 with 2-run HR and RBI single in 10-5 loss to Cardinals. DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 2-for-5 with game-tying solo HR in 3rd inning en route to 6-5, walk-off win over Reds, but he gets ejected in 8th inning for arguing a called third strike that Sports Illustrated later describes as “terrible” (5/13/2024)
  • Speaking of Alex Bregman (Astros), who is hitting only .218 with 3 HRs, MLB Network’s Mark DeRosa spends 5 minutes discussing changes to the struggling veteran’s swing (5/14/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar, who debuted with Angels on May 1, ranks among A.L. leaders in several categories this month, including #8 with .400 batting average (10-for-25), #4 (tied) with 12 RBIs, #2 with .880 slugging percentage, and #3 with 1.280 OPS (5/13/2024)
  • A day after homering twice, 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes 2-for-4 with solo HR and RBI single in 9-6 loss to Guardians affiliate (5/12/2024)
  • Two Jewish first basemen — Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA), and Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) — each rank among International League’s Top 10 batters in both batting average and OBP. In addition, Mervis ranks #2 in both slugging percentage and OPS (5/13/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) goes 3-for-4 with double, solo HR, and walk in 4-3 victory over Blue Jays affiliate. Don’t let Schreck’s .248 batting average make you doubt his effectiveness. He is tied for #5 in Northwest League with 16 RBIs, ranks #1 with 1.43 walk-to-strikeout ratio, and is tied for #18 in weighted runs created plus (wRC+), a statistic some experts consider to be among the best measures of a player’s total offensive value (5/12/2024)
  • P Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) throws 2 scoreless innings in 9-3 win over Marlins affiliate, yielding one hit and no walks while striking out 3 batters. He is aided by CF Zach Levenson, who goes 2-for-5 with double and single (5/12/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) opens scoring with first-inning home run and ends day 3-for-5 with bunt single, stolen base, and one RBI in 5-4 win over Reds on May 9. A day later, Pederson exits game in 8th inning after being hit in elbow by 95-mph sinker (5/10/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AAA) gives up first earned run of season on May 8, his Triple-A debut, and is saddled with loss in 5-4 defeat at hands of Mets affiliate. He bounces back three days later in 3-2 win over same team, yielding no hits and a walk over one scoreless inning while striking out two batters en route to 4th save of season (5/11/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes 3-for-4 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs in 5-3 win over Guardians affiliate, including a 2-run, 455-foot shot in 1st inning (5/11/2024)
  • CF/LF Kevin Pillar (Angels) goes 3-for-4 with triple, stolen base, and 3 RBIs in 9-3 win over Royals. In 7 games since signing free-agent deal with Los Angeles, Pillar is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with 2 HRs, triple, double, stolen base, and 9 RBIs (5/11/2024)
  • P Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA) tames Dodgers affiliate in second Triple-A start, a 3-1 win. Gordon yields one earned run on 5 hits and 2 walks over 5.1 innings while fanning 3 batters (5/11/2024)
  • 1B/DH Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) hits .368 (7-for-19) over 5 games from May 8 to May 11, with 4 doubles, 3 walks, one HBP, and 4 RBIs. He ranks #4 in International League with .343 batting average, is tied for #1 with .467 OBP, and ranks #1 with 15 doubles (5/11/2024)
  • P Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) raises record to 3-0 with 2.01 ERA in 9-2 win over Orioles affiliate, yielding one earned run over 6 innings on 4 hits and a walk while striking out six (5/8/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) hits 3-run, go-ahead HR on May 9 to secure 5-3 win over Athletics affiliate. A day later against same team, Gelof opens scoring in 1st inning with RBI single, ties game in 10th inning with RBI double, and ends day 3-for-5 with 2 doubles, but team loses 7-6 in 11 innings (5/10/2024)
  • P Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/A) throws 5 scoreless innings to even his record at 1-1 in 8-6 win over Dodgers affiliate on May 9, giving up 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5 batters (5/9/2024)
  • P Jake Bird (Diamondbacks) evens season record at 1-1 in 4-2 win over Rangers, tossing perfect inning of relief with 2 strikeouts (5/10/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) holds Mets hitless for 7 innings, but bullpen gives up HR with 2 outs in bottom of 9th inning to spoil no-hitter. Less than 2 weeks ago, Fried threw 6 no-hit innings against Mariners. Click here for more info on Saturday’s win (5/11/2024)
  • LF Kevin Pillar (Angels) explodes for 2 HRs, a double, and 6 RBIs in second start with new team, and L.A. goes on crush Pirates 9-0. Pillar opens scoring with 3-run HR in 4th inning, drives in run in 5th inning with fielder’s choice, strokes solo HR in 7th inning, and hits RBI double in 8th inning. Two-homer game is seventh of career, and 6 RBIs are a career high (5/7/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels) raises record to 4-2 in 15-2 win over division-leading Giants affiliate, yielding 3 hits and 6 walks over 5 scoreless innings while striking out five (5/7/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) hits sac fly in 3rd inning, ties game in 7th inning with 2-run single, and singles in 10th inning, but team loses 6-5 in 10 innings to Guardians affiliate (5/7/2024)
  • SS Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) hits game-tying single in 10th inning, but team loses 6-5 in 11 innings to Astros affiliate (5/7/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) stuns Reds in 11-1 victory, yielding just one hit and one walk over 6 innings while striking out 6. Israeli-American has won last 3 starts and is tied for #7 in A.L. with 0.97 WHIP, #7 with .188 opponent batting average, and #24 with 3.57 ERA (5/5/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 1-for-3 with RBI single and walk in 4-0 win over Mariners affiliate on May 5, but more interesting stat is his 3 stolen bases, which come off his only attempts of season. Before Gelof can play another game, he is promoted to L.A.’s High-A team (5/7/2024)
  • SS Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) hits bases-loaded double in 13-3 win over Pirates affiliate on May 3, then launches 2-run HR to open scoring in 5-4 loss to same team on May 4. Goosenberg’s 20 RBIs are tied for #2 in South Atlantic League (5/4/2024)
  • LF/1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) goes 3-for-6 with 3 singles and 4 RBIs in 10-4 win over Pirates affiliate. All 4 RBIs come with 2 outs (5/3/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) tosses scoreless inning of relief with 2 strikeouts in 9-3 loss to Red Sox affiliate on May 3 — and matches those numbers in 2-1 loss to same team on May 5. Among fellow Eastern League pitchers with at least 10 innings thrown, Lazar is tied for #4 with 15.68 strikeouts per 9 innings, and he ranks #1, tied or not, in multiple categories, including with 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, 0.00 walks per 9 innings, 18.00 strikeout/walk ratio, and 52.9% batter strikeout rate. Opposing batters are hitting just .088 against 24-year-old, who was drafted by Brewers out of high school way back in 2017 (5/5/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (reds) strikes out 5 batters and yields 2 hits over 2 scoreless innings, but team loses 9-6 to Twins affiliate. In 11 appearances comprised of 15.2 innings, the 6’8″ southpaw is 2-0 with 1.15 ERA, 2 blown saves, 1.21 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts against 7 walks (5/4/2024)
  • RF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) hits 2-run, go-ahead HR in 3rd inning of 8-5 win over Diamondbacks affiliate (5/3/2024)
  • P Ben Simon (Mets/High-A) tosses 2 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts in 4-0 win over Orioles affiliate. The 2023 draft pick needs just 21 pitches to retire all 6 batters he faces (5/4/2024)
  • Levi Sterling, a 17-year-old pitcher at Notre Dame H.S. in Sherman Oaks, Calif., ranks #38 in Baseball America’s updated list of 2024 Top MLB Draft Prospects. According to BA, the 6’4″ righthander has a fastball that has “touched” 94-mph and is likely to gain “significantly more velocity,” sports a promising curveball and changeup, and is “one of the better strike-throwers in the class,” a group that includes high-school as well as college ballplayers. In 2023, Sterling went 1-0 with 1.68 ERA in five games with USA Baseball‘s 18-and-under team. He has committed to play ball at U. of Texas (5/3/2024)
  • P Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/A) tosses 5.1 scoreless innings, yielding 3 hits, 3 walks, and hit batter while striking out five in 4-3, extra-inning loss to Athletics affiliate. Impressively, the 6’6″ righthander induces 8 groundouts against just one flyout (5/2/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) strokes 2-run single in 1st inning en route to 6-5 win over Rays affiliate (5/2/2024)
  • C Andy Yerzy (Brewers/AA) goes 1-for-2 with tie-breaking walk and sacrifice fly in 7-5 win over Cubs affiliate (5/2/2024)
  • One day after signing free-agent deal with Angels, OF Kevin Pillar makes L.A. debut, going 1-for-4 with infield single in 2-1 loss to Phillies. Angels are Superman’s 8th franchise over 12-year MLB career (5/1/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 3-for-4 in 3-0 loss to Dodgers, the team he played for from 2014 through 2020. Pederson is hitting .317 (20-for-63), with 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, .451 OBP, and .959 OPS, and all but 3 of his ABs have come against right-handers (5/1/2024)
  • DH Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) goes 3-for-5 with 2 doubles in 14-5 loss to Pirates affiliate. His .348 batting average is tied for #8 in International League, and he ranks #2 with .487 OBP, #3 with 1.56 walk-to-strikeout ratio, and #4 with 21.4% walk percentage (5/1/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) yields walk and hit, allows one of three inherited runners to score, and strikes out 4 batters in 8-5 loss to Twins affiliate. His 1.38 ERA is tied for #14 among International Leaguers with at least 10 innings pitched (5/1/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) breaks 1-1 tie with 3-run, 402-foot HR in bottom of 6th inning en route to 7-1 win over Diamondbacks affiliate (5/1/2024)
  • LF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AA) opens scoring with solo HR in 1st inning and ends day 2-for-4 with stolen base, but team loses 7-2 to Guardians affiliate. Though stolen bases by height are not available for minor leagues, Bishop’s four thefts would rank him #3 among MLB hitters 6’5″ or taller (5/1/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) evens record at 2-2 in 4-2 win over Yankees in Baltimore, yielding 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 walks over 7 innings while throwing only 93 pitches. Victory is Kremer’s second straight (4/30/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) hits first HR of season in 10-9, extra-inning win over 1st-place Guardians. Three-run blast, which comes in Bregman’s 110th plate appearance, ties score at 3-3. Bregman stroked 1,000th Major League hit on April 25 (4/30/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA) yields just one earned run over 7 innings and 95 pitches in 3-2 win over Dodgers affiliate. Among all International League pitchers with at least 20 innings tossed in 2024, Rosenberg ranks #4 with 2.84 ERA and #4 with 4.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Southpaw played briefly in MLB for Angels in 2023 and 2024 (4/30/2024)
  • LF Zach Levenson (Cardinals/High-A), batting leadoff, goes 3-for-6 with solo HR, 2 doubles, and 2 RBIs in 11-6 win over Twins affiliate. He ranks among Midwest League’s Top 25 in several categories, including .294 batting average, .380 WHIP, and OPS of .851 (4/30/2024)
  • Two days after White Sox reassign LF Kevin Pillar to Triple-A, Pillar declares free agency and signs Major League contract with Angels, his 8th MLB team over 12-year career. Pillar reportedly will fill gap left by Angels CF Mike Trout, who is expected to be out at least 4 to 6 weeks due to knee surgery (4/30/2024)
  • In an unrelated White Sox transaction, Chicago calls up P Jared Shuster from Triple-A. Shuster pitched relief twice with White Sox in early April, going 0-0 with 1.42 ERA and 1.105 WHIP over combined 6.1 innings (5/1/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) tosses 6 innings of no-hit ball, yielding 2 walks and striking out 7 before being lifted for reliever in 2-1 loss to Mariners. And here’s the crazy thing: Mariners P Bryce Miller has no-hitter through 6 innings, too. Fried’s gem comes just one start after turning in arguably the best statistical outing of career, an April 23 win over Marlins in which he recorded first-ever complete-game shutout with 3 or fewer hits, no walks, and 92 or fewer pitches. Click here to see post-game interview (4/29/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs) hasn’t pitched since college, but with Red Sox ahead 11-0 after 7 innings, Chicago protects bullpen by moving him from DH to mound. Boston feasts on Mervis like a Passover-weary Jew on chametz, with 7 of 9 batters reaching base via singles or doubles. Though Mervis’ 37 pitches range in speed from 49.5-mph to 87.4-mph, 32 top out below 60-mph, such as this 56-mph eephus. By time Mervis is relieved, score is 17-0, and he has 81.00 ERA (4/27/2024)
  • We missed this one: 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) is named California League Player of the Week after hitting .462 (6-for-13) from April 8-14, with double, triple, HR, 7 RBIs, OBP of .529, and 1.453 OPS. It is second POTW honor for Gelof, who also earned California League Player of the Month honors in September 2023 (4/15/2024)
  • In other minor-league highlights, 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) makes full-extension catch to retire first batter of game, and CJ Stubbs (Astros/AA) uses innovative “dipsy-doodle” to avoid pickoff at first base (4/26/2024)
  • P Brian Zeldin (U. of Georgia), a 24-year-old transfer student, is named to midseason watch list for National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Stopper of the Year award. Bulldogs’ closer, one of two Jewish pitchers on team, is 3-2 with 5 saves, 3.86 ERA, and 1.40 WHIP (4/24/2024)
  • P Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) yields 2 earned runs over 5 innings to earn win in 6-2 victory over Pirates affiliate. In 4 starts this season, U. of Hawaii alum is 2-0 with 2.21 ERA and 1.33 WHIP (4/26/2024)
  • White Sox are expected to designate OF Kevin Pillar for assignment. Meanwhile, on April 25, Athletics place 2B Jake Gelof on injured list with strained left oblique (4/26/2024)
  • Rob Friedman, whose Pitching Ninja feed on X has a half-million followers, celebrates nasty pitch by Braves P Max Fried against Marlins 2B Luis Arráez in a post. “Here lies Luis Arráez…2x Batting Champ,” Friedman jokes. “Cause of Death: Max Fried” (4/23/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA) dominates Rangers affiliate over 7 shutout innings, but team loses 1-0. Southpaw yields just 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5, thus shrinking ERA to 3.19 and WHIP to 1.06 (4/25/2024)
  • Photo captures 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) eating matzoh offered by a Cubs fan at Wrigley Field (4/24/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 1-for-3 with third triple of season and 2 walks. Two-run triple kicks off scoring in 1st inning and proves margin of difference in 12-10 win over Padres franchise. Gelof ranks #1 in California League with 22 RBIs, #4 with .350 average and .481 OBP, and #3 with 1.098 OPS (4/25/2024)
  • RF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) reaches base 4 times in 6-2 loss to Angels affiliate, going 2-for-3 with RBI single, 2 walks, and stolen base (4/25/2024)
  • Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (independent Atlantic League) re-sign 2B Michael Wielansky. Former Astros prospect hit .320 (31-for-97) with 8 HRs, 21 RBIs, and 1.060 OPS for Blue Crabs in 2023 before being signed to minor-league deal by San Francisco Giants. Wielansky joins P Alex Katz, a former White Sox, Orioles, and Cubs prospect who signed with Blue Crabs on March 11 (4/11/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) strikes out 10 batters for second time in career as Baltimore beats Angels 6-5 in California, yielding 2 earned runs on 3 hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. Win is first in five starts this season for Kremer, who retires CF Mike Trout twice but gives up solo HR to three-time MVP in 6th inning (4/24/2024)
  • DH Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 1-for-3 with solo HR in 10-8 win over Padres affiliate. Los Angeles’ #22 prospect ranks high among California League batters in multiple categories, including #3 with .351 batting average, #1 with 20 RBIs, #6 with .473 OBP, and #4 with 1.069 OPS (4/24/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) reaches bases 3 times in 8-2 loss to Cubs affiliate, going 1-for-3 with double and 2 walks. Toronto’s #16 prospect ranks #6 in International League with .352 batting average, #4 with .495 OBP, #5 with 22% walk rate, and #5 with 1.67 walk-to-strikeout ratio (4/24/2024)
  • 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) manages to drive in tie-breaking run not once but twice in 8-7 victory over Mariners affiliate. His pinch-hit, RBI single in bottom of 6th inning gives team 5-4 lead, while his two-run double in bottom of 8th inning puts team up 7-5 (4/24/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (White Sox) hits solo HR, his first round-tripper as member of White Sox, but Twins prevail 6-3 (4/24/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) realizes unusual feat in 2-1 win over Brewers affiliate. Entering game in 6th inning with a man on base and score tied 0-0, Kravetz is tagged with blown save after yielding run-scoring double. But 6’8″ southpaw gives up no other runs over 1.2 innings and ultimately is credited with win. He is 2-0 this season with 2 blown saves, 0.77 ERA, and 1.03 WHIP in 8 appearances (4/24/2024)
  • Cubs call-up 1B Matt Mervis from Triple-A. Undrafted recruit out of Duke U. made MLB debut in 2023 but returned to minors at end of May. He is hitting .288 with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs, OBP of .402, and 1.008 OPS (4/23/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves), who struggled in three of first 4 starts this season, turns in best statistical outing of career in 5-0 victory over Marlins. For first time, lanky southpaw earns complete-game shutout with 3 or fewer hits, no walks, and 92 or fewer pitches. He also strikes out 6 batters. According to Associated Press, “Fried was so dominant the Braves didn’t have anyone in the bullpen even bother warming up” (4/23/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 3-for-5 and 4 RBIs in 7-2 win over Padres affiliate, including game-tying double in 5th inning and go-ahead double in 7th inning. Younger brother of Oakland’s Zack Gelof is hitting .435 with 1.152 OPS over past 6 games and has poked hits in all but 2 of 14 games this season (4/23/2024)
  • Dramatic 2-run HR by 2B Zack Gelof breaks up scoreless game in top of 9th inning en route to 2-0 win over Yankees at Yankee Stadium (4/22/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) continues domination of Eastern League batters, giving up one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings and earning 3rd save in 3 chances as team beats Yankees affiliate 10-4. Single is first baserunner Lazar has allowed in 7.1. innings of relief this season. Despite record, Lazar is not among MLB’s Top 30 Philadelphia prospects (4/22/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) scores game’s first run in 5-3 loss to Cardinals, ending day 2-for-3 with double and walk. Platooning Pederson has paid dividends for Arizona. Left-handed batter is hitting .300 (12-for-40) against right-handed pitchers, with one HR, 4 RBIs, OBP of .444, 10 walks against 3 strikeouts, and .894 OPS. Against left-handed pitchers, Pederson is 2-for-3 with solo HR, double, and walk (4/22/2024)
  • LF/1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA), Toronto’s #16 prospect, goes 4-for-6 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs in 16-4 win over Guardians affiliate. Horwitz ranks #2 among International League batters with .488 OBP, #5 with .353 batting average, and #24 (tied) with 13 RBIs (4/21/2024)
  • LF Zach Levenson (Cardinals/High-A), St. Louis’s #22 prospect, belts 2-run, go-ahead HR in 4-2 win over top-ranked Royals affiliate. Blast is 2023 draftee’s first since promotion to High-A (4/21/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA), Chicago’s #13 prospect, puts team on path to 9-3 win over Reds affiliate with solo HR in 1st inning. Mervis ranks #12 (tied) in International league with 5 HRs, #14 with 1.008 OPS, and #24 (tied) with 13 RBIs (4/21/2024)
  • P Jake Bird (Rockies) tosses 2 scoreless innings in 2-1 win over Mariners, yielding a hit and walk while striking out three (4/21/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 4-for-5 with double, RBI single, and 4th stolen base of season in 9-4 win over Dodgers. It’s his second 4-hit game in eight-year career and first since September 2021 (4/19/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) leaves mound in 6th inning with 2 men on base, 2 outs, and Royals leading 1-0. Relief pitcher allows 5 runs to score in remainder of inning, and Kremer is tagged with loss in 9-4 final. In 4 starts, he is 0-2 with 4.91 ERA, 17 strikeouts and 5 walks across 22 innings, and 1.14 WHIP (4/19/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) extends early-season perfection in 8-2 win over Mets affiliate, striking out 4 batters over 2 flawless innings. Lazar is 0-0 with 2 saves, 0.00 ERA, 12 strikeouts over 6 combined innings, and has not allowed a single baserunner (4/19/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), Los Angeles’s #22 prospect, goes 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, including 2-run, go-ahead single, in 9-6 win over Angels affiliate (4/19/2024)
  • A 2-run HR in 2nd inning by DH Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/AA) gives team all the runs it needs in 2-1 win over Rays affiliate (4/19/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 1-for-4 with 2-run HR in 9-1 win over Pirates. The round-tripper, his first with Mets, exits bat at 106.3-mph (4/17/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) enters game as pinch-hitter in 6th inning and strokes 402-foot HR in 9th inning of 5-3 loss to Cubs. Earlier in game, Pederson discusses what is “so special” about his new team (4/17/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) pitches 5 shaky innings in 5-4, extra-winning win over Astros but doesn’t get credit for victory, yielding 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 4 walks. He also loses battle against 3B Alex Bregman, giving up game-tying RBI single and 2 walks in 3 faceoffs (4/17/2024)
  • The 2024 season has not been kind to P Max Fried (Braves). Through 4 starts, he is 1-0 with 7.71 ERA, 1.99 WHIP, 6.7 strikeouts per 9 innings, and 5.0 walks per 9 innings. Last year, by contrast, the 6’4″ southpaw went 2-0 with 0.45 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 8.1 strikeouts per 9 IP, and 1.8 walks per 9 IP. No reason to panic, though. In 2021, arguably Fried’s worst 4-game start, he went 1-1 with 8.44 ERA and 2.06 WHIP but ended season 14-7 with 2 shutouts, 3.04 ERA, and 1.087 WHIP (4/17/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) goes 1-for-2 with 2-run single and walk in 9-0 win over Brooklyn Cyclones. On other side of field, P Ben Simon tosses scoreless inning of relief, yielding one hit and striking out 2. With 8 RBIs, Dissin and LF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) are tied for #6 in South Atlantic League (4/17/2024)
  • Israel Baseball launches new clothing line including hats, shirts, and hoodies (4/17/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), batting 9th in lineup, strokes 2-run, tie-breaking double in bottom of 8th inning en route to 6-3 win over Pirates at home. Wearing belt with Star of David painted on it, newly-minted Met also is hit by pitch, records third SB of season, and makes running grab in deep left-center. On other side of field, cleanup hitter 1B Rowdy Tellez goes 0-for-4 (4/15/2024)
  • Benjamin Hochman, sports columnist with St. Louis Post-Dispatch, eulogizes local Jewish legend Ken Holtzman, who died April 14 at age 78 (4/16/2024)
  • Prep Baseball ranks OF/3B Nathan Eisfelder the #2 ballplayer among all high-school seniors in Tennessee, and #17 in his graduating class nationwide. The 6’2″ righthander committed to U. of Tennessee in August 2023 (4/17/2024)
  • LF Dalton Guthrie (Red Sox/AAA), batting last in lineup, goes 2-for-4 with 3-run, tie-breaking HR and 4 RBIs in 7-4 win over Rays affiliate (4/16/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 1-for-2 with HBP, sac fly, and 2-run HR, his first round-tripper since signing free-agent deal with Arizona, in 12-11, extra-inning win over Cubs. Veteran is hitting .323 (10-for-31) with one HR, 4 RBIs, OBP of .465, and 9 walks against just one strikeout (4/16/2024)
  • P Sam Delaplane, a former Mariners and Giants prospect whose promising career has been impacted by multiple injuries, signs free-agent contract with Long Island Ducks of independent Atlantic League (4/11/2024)
  • Three-time World Series champion and two-time All Star Ken Holtzman, who also tossed 2 no-hitters (one, two) for the Cubs, passed away April 14 at age 78. Described in a tweet as “one of the best left-handed pitchers in Cubs history,” Holtzman played in four separate World Series with the Athletics, amassing an enviable 4-1 record with 2.55 ERA and helping himself at the plate by hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a HR and 3 doubles. Click here for more on Holtzman’s amazing career (4/15/2024)
  • Israel Baseball launches new merchandise, including hats, shirts, and hoodies (4/17/2024)
  • Batting leadoff, 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) reaches base in all 5 plate appearances in 17-0 crushing of Nationals affiliate, going 3-for-3 with 2 walks and RBI double. Horwitz is on a tear. He ranks #2 among International League hitters with .395 batting average, #1 with .559 OBP, and #9 with 1.094 OPS — two slots behind Cubs slugger Matt Mervis (4/14/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) breakes scoreless tie in 8th inning with RBI single, thrilling the hometown crowd, and New York goes on to beat Royals 2-1. He finishes day 2-for-4 (4/14/2024)
  • Batting cleanup, RF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox) goes 3-for-5 with 2-run double, but it’s not enough to prevent 6-4 loss to Pirates affiliate (4/14/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) remains perfect, tossing 2 innings without a hit or walk and striking out three in 9-5 loss to Red Sox affiliate. In 3 outings and a combined 4 innings this season, the untouchable righthander has fanned 8 of 12 batters (4/14/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) strikes out 4 batters over 1.2 scoreless innings in 7-5 loss to Guardians affiliate. He has yet to give up a run in 5 outings this season (4/13/2024)
  • 2B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) hits RBI single and 9th-inning HR to finish day 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs, but team falls 13-11 to Twins affiliate (4/14/2024)
  • P Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) throws 2 scoreless innings in 9-4 loss to Marlins affiliate, yielding one hit and no walks while striking out 2 batters (4/14/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes deep twice (one, two) in 6-0 win over Twins affiliate, including 2-run shot in 1st inning. It’s third time he has smacked 2 HRs in a game but first time in 2 years. Mervis is hitting .341 (15-for-44) with 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, OBP of .426, and 1.085 OPS (4/12/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) regains All-Star form after 2 tough outings, yielding one earned run on 4 hits and a walk over 6.1 innings while fanning 4 batters en route to 8-1 win over Marlins. Fried, who twice has finished within top 5 contestants for Cy Young Award, induces 10 groundouts against just 2 flyouts (4/12/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) opens scoring with 2-run single and scores walk-off run in bottom of 9th inning to beat Athletics affiliate 4-3. He ends day 1-for-3 with intentional walk and 2 RBIs, tying him for #1 in California League with 12 RBIs (4/12/2024)
  • 1st-inning home run by C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) is his first since promotion and leads team to 4-0 win over Rangers affiliate (4/12/2024)
  • It’s a bittersweet day for P Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/A), the only Orthodox Jew in organized baseball. The 6’6″ righthander goes 5 innings deep in first start of 2024, yielding just 3 hits and one walk on 63 pitches. But two things go wrong. With the score tied 0-0 in top of the 5th inning, Steinmetz makes a fielding error to load the bases, then gives up sacrifice fly. Furthermore, his team is held scoreless. Giants prevail 3-0, and Steinmetz absorbs the loss (4/11/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), batting cleanup, goes 1-for-3 with 2-run HR and walk in 7-3 win over Orioles affiliate. A 2nd-round pick in 2023 draft, Gelof has 10 RBIs in just 22 ABs, ranking him #3 in California League (4/11/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals/AAA) earns first major- or minor-league save since 2017 in 6-3, rain-shortened win over Blue Jays affiliate. It’s not Bleier’s finest performance — he yields solo HR and single in 2-inning stint — but MLB veteran does win Jew vs. Jew faceoff when he retires DH Spencer Horwitz on a groundout (4/11/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 2-for-5 and scores 3 runs in 16-4 shellacking of Braves (4/11/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) records 4th straight game of 2 or more hits, going 3-for-4 with bases-loaded walk, RBI single, and RBI double in 12-11 squeaker over Nationals affiliate. Performance leaves Horwitz among Top 10 Triple-A hitters in multiple categories, including #1 with .568 OBP, #5 with .424 batting average, #5 with 6.7 weighted runs above average, #6 (tied) with weighted runs created, #7 with 2.2 walk/strikeout ratio, and #7 (tied) with 25% walk percentage (4/10/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) defends struggling pitcher David Bednar after All-Star is booed by fans. “This is the pride of Pittsburgh,” a smiling Tellez says in interview, his hand on Bednar’s shoulder. “What happened today is, I think, unacceptable…We just have to be be better” (4/9/2024)
  • LF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AA) goes 3-for-5 with RBI single and stolen base in 6-3 loss to Guardians affiliate. Bishop, a 1st-round pick in 2019 draft, stole 20 of 22 bases in 2022 but was out all 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery (4/10/2024)
  • DH Matt Mervis (Cubs/AA) goes 2-for-4 with double in 4-1 win over Twins affiliate, raising batting average to .361 (13-for-36), OBP to .457, and OPS to 1.040. Two-hit outing comes a day after he goes 4-for-5 with HR and double (4/10/2024)
  • A day after recording first save of 3-year MLB career, P Jake Bird (Rockies) blows one. Entering game in top of 7th inning with Colorado leading Diamondbacks 3-2, Bird gives up one earned run on single and double before retiring side. Arizona goes on to win 5-3 (4/10/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (White Sox) goes 1-for-2 with 2-run double down left-field line in 7-5 win over Guardians (4/9/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA), who was selected by Nationals in 39th round of 2016 draft but didn’t go pro until signing free-agent deal with Cubs in 2020, goes 4-for-5 with solo HR and double in 9-7 win over Twins affiliate. It is second 4-hit game of Mervis’s career (4/9/2024)
  • Pitching for only second time this season, P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) earns save #2 in home opener, a 9-8 win over Red Sox affiliate. Lazar has struck out 5 batters over 2 combined innings and has yet to give up a run, hit or walk (4/9/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) continues excellent start to 2024 season, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts in 13-4 loss to Guardians affiliate. In 4 games, reliever has yet to give up a run and has held opposing batters to a .105 average and 0.50 WHIP (4/9/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 2-for-3 with triple, RBI single, sac fly, walk, and 2 RBIs in 6-4 loss to Orioles affiliate (4/9/2024)
  • RF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA), an undrafted free agent who signed with St. Louis in 2021, goes 3-for-4 with bunt single in 6-2 win over Twins affiliate. Springfield Cardinals are 4-0 this season (4/9/2024)
  • There are 2 outs in 9th inning and bases loaded when P Jake Bird (Rockies) is called to mound. Bird answers call decisively, forcing flyout on second pitch to preserve 7-5 win over Arizona and, perhaps more momentously, to record first career save after blowing all 11 opportunities in 2023. On other side of field, pinch-hitter Joc Pederson grounds out in 8th inning (4/8/2024)
  • P Jared Shuster (White Sox) performs well in first appearance for Chicago, tossing 3 innings of scoreless relief in 9-1 loss to Guardians. Shuster yields 3 hits and no walks while striking out three (4/8/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) drives in first run of game with 1st-inning single. He ends day 3-for-5 with double and one RBI in 10-5 win over Rangers (4/8/2024)
  • CF Dalton Guthrie (Red Sox/AAA) has good day at plate and even better one with glove in 9-0 win over Mets affiliate. In addition to going 1-for-3 with 2 walks and 2 RBIs, Guthrie earns outfield assist in 4th inning after catching fly ball and hurling it to first base for double play (4/8/2024)
  • Call-up! White Sox recall P Jared Shuster from Triple-A. Southpaw made 11 starts for Braves in 2023, his rookie season (4/8/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) is masterful in second start of season, yielding one unearned run on 5 hits, zero walks, and 6 strikeouts over 7 innings. Pirates comes from behind to win 3-2, but Kremer is not hit with the decision (4/7/2024)
  • Great 2-day stretch for 2B Zack Gelof and his Athletics teammates. On April 6, Gelof goes 0-for-1 but scores 3 runs on 3 walks enroute to a 4-0 win over Tigers. Today, a 7-1 win over Detroit, Gelof goes 4-for-5 with RBI triple in 1st inning, 3-run HR in 2nd inning, and leaping grab in 4th inning (4/7/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), Zack’s younger brother, goes 1-for-4 with 3 RBIs in 14-7 win over Padres affiliate, including bases-loaded walk and 2-run single (4/7/2024)
  • 1B Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) goes 3-for-5 with 2-run HR, RBI double, and stolen base in 9-3 win over Astros affiliate (4/6/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA), the Buffalo Bisons’ 2023 MVP, reaches base six times in 10-6 win over Red Sox affiliate. Horwitz, who made MLB debut in 2023, goes 2-for-2 with RBI double, 4 walks, and stolen base (4/6/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA) tosses second straight gem in 2-1 win over Mariners affiliate. Southpaw yields one earned run on 4 hits over 7 innings, striking out 7 and walking none. In 2 starts this season, he is 2-0 with 1.38 ERA, 13 strikeouts, zero walks, and 0.62 WHIP (4/7/2024)
  • 2B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) goes 3-for-3 with solo HR and RBI double in 9-6 win over Tigers affiliate. His teammate, 1B Matt Mervis, goes 1-for-4 with single and HBP (4/7/2024)
  • DH Hunter Bishop (Giants/AA) goes 2-for-5 with 2-run HR in 13-3 victory over Yankees affiliate (4/6/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) reaches base 3 times, going 2-for-4 with a walk, but team loses 6-5 to Braves in 10 innings. Pederson is hitting .500 (7-for-14) with a double, RBI, and .632 OBP. He has drawn 5 walks with zero strikeouts (4/5/2024)
  • Interesting 2-day stretch for CF Harrison Bader (Mets). On April 4, Bader’s 8th-inning single breaks up no-hitter, and New York — which until then had gone 13 innings without a hit — goes on to beat Tigers 2-1. On April 5, Bader goes 1-for-3 with walk and a stolen base that produces decisive run in 3-2 win over Reds. But in another notable 8th-inning plate appearance, Bader, facing 0-2 count, earns automatic third strike due to timer violation (4/5/2024)
  • One week after Triple-A season begins, teams in Double-A, High-A, and Single-A make their 2024 debuts. Among the day’s highlights: P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) strikes out side in 9th inning of 5-2 win over Orioles affiliate to earn save. 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 2-for-5 in 6-1 win over Mariners affiliate. And 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), younger brother of 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics), goes 1-for-5 with RBI single and sac fly in 11-5 loss to Padres affiliate (4/5/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) reaches base 3 times in 7-4 win over Nationals, going 2-for-4 with 2-run single in 1st inning plus a walk. The 29-year-old is hitting .286 (4-for-14) with a HR, .444 OBP, and .944 OPS (4/4/2024)
  • If you noticed a familiar face in Cleveland’s bullpen this season, you aren’t imagining it. Brad Goldberg, who had a cup of coffee with the White Sox in 2017 and pitched for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, is a new bullpen coach for the Guardians. The 34-year-old is no stranger to Ohio. A suburban Cleveland native, he played and coached at Ohio State U. and spent several years in the Guardians’ farm system as a pitching coach before his most recent promotion. In 2023, Goldberg guided the Akron RubberDucks (AA) to the Eastern League’s second-lowest ERA (4/5/2024)
  • Cubs already have scored 3 runs in 6th inning when reliever Jake Bird (Rockies) takes mound with one out and runners on first and third. He needs just one pitch, a 95.1-mph sinker, to induce double play and end rally. Bird goes on to toss a scoreless 7th inning, but Colorado loses 9-8 (4/3/2024)
  • Two Jewish teammates on Cardinals’ Single-A team are promoted to High-A on same day. P Tanner Jacobson, the first player in Queens U. of Charlotte history to be drafted by an MLB team, went 4-2 with 4.19 ERA in 2023 and averaged 12.41 strikeouts per 9 innings, #6 among all Florida State League pitchers with more than 50 innings thrown. LF Zach Levenson, a 2023 draftee, hit .268 (33-for-123) with 6 HRs, 22 RBIs, .331 OBP, and .811 OPS (4/3/2024)
  • Things continue to look up for LF RJ Schreck, a 2023 draftee who hit .267 (24-for-90) with one HR and 12 RBIs during rookie season with Seattle’s Single-A team. After a surprise call-up to MLB Spring Training that saw him go 3-for-7 with a HR and 3 RBIs, Schreck is promoted to franchise’s High-A team (4/3/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA), who made MLB debut in 2023, delivers gem in first starting of season, an 8-2 win over Mariners affiliate. Southpaw yields one earned run on 4 hits over 6 innings while striking out 7 batters and walking zero (4/2/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA), who made MLB debut in 2023, goes 1-for-3 with walk and game-tying double in 8th inning of 5-4 win over Tigers affiliate. Two-bagger strikes outfield wall and lands within inches of home run. Mervis is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, OBP of .444 and 1.015 OPS (4/2/2023)
  • P Dean Kremer makes season debut in start against Royals, yielding 3 earned runs over 5.1 innings on 3 hits (including 2 HRs), one walk, and 5 strikeouts, 3 of which came on cutters. Orioles go on to win 6-4, although Kremer is not credited with victory (4/1/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez makes first HR as a Pirate count. His 3-run blast in 7th inning puts Pittsburgh ahead 7-6, en route to 10-inning, 9-7 win that seals four-game sweep of Marlins in Miami. The 425-foot shot comes on 9th pitch of at-bat and exits at 106.6-mph. “The vibes [in the Pirate clubhosue] are really good,” Tellez tells MLB.com. “I haven’t been here very long, but you can see the difference” (3/31/2024)
  • P Jake Bird (Rockies) bounces back from rough 2024 debut with perfect inning of relief, but Diamondbacks prevail 5-1 (3/31/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof reaches base 4 times in 12-3 loss to Guardians, going 2-for-4 with double, walk, and HBP. He is robbed of triple when ball lodges (just barely) under fence padding and umps call hit a ground-rule double (3/30/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) is knocked out of game in 1st inning of season debut. He faces 7 batters, yielding 3 earned runs on 3 walks, 2 singles, and 2 SBs. Atlanta nevertheless prevails over Phillies, 12-4 (3/30/2024)
  • In other Braves news, P Jared Shuster (AAA), who made MLB debut in 2023, absorbs loss in 10-3 defeat by Cardinals affiliate. He yields 7 earned runs over 4 innings, thanks in part to 4 HRs (3/30/2024)
  • LF Joc Pederson, playing in first game with Diamondbacks, launches regular season with a bang, going 4-for-4 with a double and RBI in 7-3 win over Rockies. One of his singles comes at expense of Colorado reliever Jake Bird, who yields 2 earned runs over 2 innings. In 6 career plate appearances against Bird, Pederson is hitting .500, with a triple and one RBI (3/29/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) puts Astros ahead 1-0 in first inning with RBI single, but Houston succumbs to Yankees 7-1. He finishes 1-for-2 with 2 walks and a stolen base (3/29/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) belts 2-run HR in first at-bat of season, but team loses 12-9 to Yankees affiliate. Horwitz ends day 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs (3/29/2024)
  • Elsewhere in Triple-A ball, P Richard Bleier (Nationals/AAA) tosses 1.1 scoreless innings in 6-3 loss to Mets affiliate, and 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes 2-for 5 with RBI in 5-4, extra-inning defeat by Royals affiliate (3/29/2024)
  • It was an inauspicious Opening Day for MLB Jews. The four position players who made it onto the field went a combined 1-for-14. 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) managed the only hit, a single, but also made the final out in Houston’s 5-4 loss to Yankees. Two bright spots: 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) made a nifty play in the field, and Kevin Pillar marked his White Sox debut by serving as club’s Opening Day starter in right field (3/28/2024)
  • At least 28 Jewish players attended major-league Spring Training, which ended March 26. If you’re interested in how they did, check out our highlights (3/29/2024)
  • Ten Jewish players made it onto the Opening Day roster of an MLB team (see list below). Players with MLB experience who didn’t make the cut are P Richard Bleier (WAS), injured P Scott Effross (NYY), 1B Spencer Horwitz (TOR), 1B Matt Mervis (CHC), P Kenny Rosenberg (LAA), and injured Twins P Zack Weiss (3/28/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals) couldn’t have done much better this Spring. In 10 appearances totaling 10.2 innings, veteran went 1-1 with 2 holds, 1.69 ERA, top-notch 0.75 WHIP, 9 strikeouts and zero walks. But Nats send him to Triple-A anyway, and Bleier agrees to go, despite option to opt-out of contract (3/27)/2024)
  • It’s Opening Day! As per usual, many MLB teams have not yet released their 26-man rosters. When all 30 rosters are released, we will post a list of here of the Jewish players on them (3/28/2024)
  • It’s been a pinch-yourself Spring for LF RJ Schreck, a Mariners prospect who was drafted in 2023 and spent season in Single-A ball. Called up to Seattle’s MLB camp on March 14, the 23-year-old seized the surprising opportunity. In team’s final game, Schreck goes 2-for-3 with game-tying RBI to help Seattle edge Padres 7-6. He ends Spring with total of 3 hits in 7 ABs, a HR, and 3 RBIs (3/26/2024)
  • According to The Forward, Red Sox organist Josh Kantor has not missed a Fenway Park game in 21 years, a streak stretching to 1,698 games. Kantor, who is Jewish, doesn’t just play the Seventh Inning Stretch. He accepts in-game requests via Twitter and has a side gig playing in rock bands (3/25/2024)
  • Several years after giving Jewish Baseball News permission to list him, P Eli Morgan (Guardians) recently told Cleveland officials he does not identify as Jewish. Thus, we have removed him from our roster. We wish Eli all the best (3/26/2024)
  • Jewish Baseball News welcomes the latest additions to our D-1 college roster. Caden Pearlman is a 6’3″ freshman pitcher at Cal-Poly in San Luis Obispo. Graham Biben is a 6’0″ freshman pitcher at Cornell, where brother August Biben also played (3/25/2024)
  • Mazel Tov to OF Kevin Pillar, who signs a one-year MLB contract with White Sox as team’s fourth outfielder — and might be in starting lineup on Opening Day. Signing ends a mind-boggling 48 hours that began when Chicago released the 11-year veteran. “There’s a lot of things I’ve been through in this game, and that was not one of them,” Pillar tells MLB.com (3/24/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) earns third straight multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with 2 HRs, a double, and 6 RBIs in 13-5 win over Mets. On other side of field, CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 0-for-1 with a walk (3/23/2024)
  • Shame on Jewish Baseball News for missing this one: P Max Lazar, a 6’1″ right-hander who finished 2023 on Brewers’ AA squad, signed minor-league, free-agent deal with Phillies in December and was called up to team’s MLB Spring Training on March 3. Since then, Lazar has made 7 appearances, maintaining 0.00 ERA over combined 5.2 innings, striking out 7, and earning 2 saves in 2 chances, including one today (3/24/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners), a Single-A prospect, goes 1-for-4 with 2-run, game-tying blast in 9-9 tie against Cubs. Homer comes in fourth MLB Spring Training at-bat (3/24/2024)
  • P Jake Bird (Rockies) tosses perfect inning of relief in 6-2 loss to Reds, lowering ERA to 3.38 and WHIP to 1.00 (3/23/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals) accomplishes rare feat in 13-4 win over Cardinals. Entering game in 8th inning, Bleier retires side on minimum-possible 3 pitches, inducing 2 groundouts and one flyout. In MLB-leading 10 appearances this spring, Bleier is 1-1 with 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 9 strikeouts, and zero walks over combined 10.2 innings (3/20/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 in rare tie game, a 3-3 draw against Marlins. In last 6 games, Bregman has hit .474 (9-for-19) with 2 doubles, 2 walks, and 2 RBIs (3/19/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) yields one earned run and strikes out 5 over 3.2 innings to earn win in 13-4 victory over Phillies, making him one of only nine MLB pitchers with 3 or more wins this Spring. On other side of field, C Garrett Stubbs goes 0-for-1 with 2 walks. In only face-off between the two men, Stubbs draws walk on 4 pitches (3/20/2024)
  • A new not-for-profit organization, Israel Baseball Americas, is launched to promote baseball among Jewish youth in North America and Latin America — and to create a pipeline of players for Team Israel. Programming will include youth camps, travel teams, high-school showcases, and adult fantasy camps (3/18/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) rebounds from meager Spring, going 2-for-4 with 3-run, 418-foot HR in 11-2 win over Phillies. It is his first home run as a Pirate (3/18/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) plays backup, but the popular player is outplaying starting catcher J.T. Realmuto this Spring, hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a .455 OBP and .876 OPS, versus .286/.310/.739 for Realmuto. But both men need to watch out for veteran backstop Aramas Garcia, who is hitting .449 (11-for-25) with a HR, 5 doubles, 7 RBIs, .517 OBP, and 1.277 OPS (3/18/2024)
  • C CJ Stubbs (Astros/AA), younger brother of Phillies C Garrett Stubbs, earns first hit in nine MLB Spring Training at-bats. A defensive replacement who enters game in 8th inning, the 27-year-old singles off P Dylan Floro, but Astros succumb to Nationals 10-1. Teammate Alex Bregman goes 0-for-1 with 2 walks (3/18/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), batting 9th in lineup, goes 2-for-3 with game-tying solo HR and a double in 7-6 win over Marlins. It is his secon dstraight 2-for-3 game (3/17/2024)
  • For the second consecutive appearance, Reds prospect Evan Kravetz strikes out the two batters he faces with the minimum-possible 3 pitches apiece. He thus has struck out 4 consecutive batters on a grand total of 12 pitches, a rare feat. This is the 6’8″ southpaw’s first MLB Spring Training (3/17/2024)
  • Four Jewish players makes MLB.com’s list of Top 300 Fantasy Draft picks. P Max Fried (Braves) leads with a #50 ranking, followed by 3B Alex Bregman (Astros), 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) and OF Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks)
  • Despite hitting .281 with .410 OBP this Spring, 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs) is optioned to Triple-A. First basemen are expected to produce power, and Mervis had only one extra-base hit and 2 RBIs in 39 plate appearances (3/17/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) has lifted batting average from .067 to .323 since March 7. In most recent game, a 5-3 win over Phillies, veteran goes 3-for-4 with double and RBI single (3/15/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier is tied for #1 among all MLB pitchers this Spring with 8 appearances. In most recent game, a 5-3 win over Astros, he tosses 0.2 scoreless innings to earn 4th hold (3/14/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer fans 3 batters in 7-2 loss to Rays, yielding one earned run on 2 hits and a walk (3/15/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA), a 6’8″ southpaw playing in his first MLB camp, improves his record to 2-0 in 19-11 win over Giants. Kravetz needs the bare-mininum 6 pitches to strike out the two batters he faces. Non-roster invitee is perfect in a combined 2 innings over 3 appearances this Spring (3/13/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/A), a 9th-round pick out of Vanderbilt U. in the 2023 draft, makes MLB Spring debut in 4-2 win over Brewers. After entering game as a defensive substitute in 6th inning, Schreck records 3 outs in left field and grounds out on first and only pitch he sees (3/14/2024)
  • OF Kevin Pillar (White Sox), who signed minor-league deal with Chicago in February, goes 2-for-3 with 2-for-3 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs in 15-4 drubbing of Brewers (3/13/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs) goes 1-for-2 in 8-3 win over Guardians. Prospect is 4-for-7 in his last 5 appearances, lifting his batting average from .188 to .304. Thanks to 6 walks against 5 strikeouts this Spring, he is sporting a .448 OBP (3/13/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals), who signed minor-league deal with Washington in February, tosses perfect inning of relief and strikes out one to earn hold in 2-1 win over Marlins. In 7 appearances this Spring, veteran has held opponents scoreless 6 times, posted 2.35 ERA, earned 3 holds, and struck out 7 while walking zero (3/13/2024)
  • Jewish Baseball News welcomes C Josh Janove, a sophomore catcher at Towson U., to our roster of D-1 college players (3/13/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) continues to come up big in Spring Training, going 2-for-3 with 2-run, go-ahead HR that propels Oakland to 4-2 win over Mariners. Gelof now leads Majors with 1.312 OPS, is tied for #2 with 4 HRs, and ranks #4 with .412 batting average. Check out Gelof’s MLB Tonight interview here (3/12/2024)
  • Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) goes 2-for-2 with ground-rule double, walk, and one RBI in 9-7 win over Pirates. Backup catcher is hitting .429 with .529 OBP and 1.029 OPS (3/10/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) ranks #3 among all A.L. batters in OPS, at 1.030 (3/10/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA), a 6’8″ prospect playing in his first major-league Spring Training, has been perfect in 2 relief appearances, yielding no walks or hits over a combined 1.1 innings and earning the win in a one-pitch performance on March 4 (3/10/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) and brother CJ Stubbs (Astros/AA) play on same diamond for first time as pros. When Garrett comes to home plate in 6th-inning for only at-bat of game, he hugs catcher CJ and then singles on first pitch. In 9th inning, CJ bats for only time in game and flies out on first pitch. Their parents are watching from the stands (3/8/2024)
  • LF Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks), who signed one-year contract with Arizona in January, goes 2-for-3 with 2-run, first-pitch HR and 3 RBIs in 7-5 win over Cubs (3/8/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) is off to a hot start at spring training. The second-year Major Leaguer is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with 2 HRs, 3 doubles, 3 walks, and a team-leading 1.268 OPS (3/7/2024)
  • Richard Bleier (Nationals) and Jake Bird (Rockies) both are enjoying strong spring performances. Bleier, who signed a minor-league contract with the Nats in February, has been near-perfect in 4 appearances, yielding just one hit and no walks while striking out 4 batters over a combined 4 innings. Bird has nearly identical numbers, except for yielding 2 hits and striking out 3 (3/7/2024)
  • SS/2B Justin Rubin, a college junior who transferred to Pepperdine U. after two years at U. of Virginia, is hitting .452 (14-for-31), ranking him #57 among all D1 players (3/5/2024)
  • Jewish Baseball News offers a warm welcome to two new arrivals on our list of D-1 players (3/5/2024)
    • P Zach Mizrahi, a junior transfer at Penn State U. Mizrahi previously played at Tallahassee Community College and Daytona State College
    • P Jacob Fried, a senior pitcher at Loyola Marymount U.
  • P Harrison Cohen (Yankees/AA), an undrafted signee who made his pro debut in 2023 and ended the season in Double-A, made his MLB Spring Training debut on March 1, and it was a memorable one. Cohen, relieving 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, entered the game with 2 outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, 2 runs already in, a man on third, and Blue Jays CF Nathan Lukes facing a 1-2 count. Cohen tossed one pitch, a 94.8-mph fastball, to retire the side (3/1/2024)
  • A total of 22 Jews are at an MLB Spring Training camp this season, including 10 pitchers and 12 position players. For more details, see our article (2/28/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) plays against brother Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), a 2023 draftee and third baseman experiencing major-league Spring Training for the first time. “I can’t remember the last time I played against him,” Zack says after the game. “Maybe like practicing against each other. But we’ve always been on the same team or different age groups, so this is pretty cool” (2/25/2024)
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