Career highlights

• Batted .316 in six minor-league seasons from 2004 to 2009
• Signed by the San Francisco Giants as a non-drafted free agent (2004)
• Spent one month with the Giants, hitting.222 with two home runs and four RBIs in 36 at bats (June 2008)
• Hit a home run in his sixth MLB at-bat (June 2, 2008)
• Made zero errors in his 21 MLB games with San Francisco 

2009 highlights

• Did not play in MLB in 2009
• Hit .290 with 4 home runs and 26 RBIs in 237 at-bats with Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) 

On being Jewish

• “What about being known as ‘the Rabbi,’ as his teammates took to calling him? ‘I’m kind of used to it, always being the only Jewish guy on my team and getting noticed for that,’ he said. ‘So if that’s what makes them happy, I’m not going to be a buzzkill. It’s all in good fun. I enjoy my teammates and being in their company. I don’t think it’s being rude to the religion of Judaism.'” (Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, reprinted in the Baltimore Jewish Times; Apr. 24, 2009)
• “(Horwitz’s) parents are Jewish, and he was raised Reform. But he credited one set of grandparents, who were Conservative, for ‘instilling a lot of Jewish traits in our family.’ Mr. Horwitz attended religious school and had his bar mitzvah at Temple Judea in Tarzana, Calif. He also played in the JCC Maccabi Games as a 15- and 16-year-old, leading his L.A.-area team to national titles in 1996 in New Jersey and in 1997 in Seattle. For high school, he went to Crespi Carmelite, an all-male Catholic prep school in Encino.’ (Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, reprinted in the Baltimore Jewish Times; Apr. 24, 2009)
• Brian Horwitz “is known by his teammates as ‘Rabbi.’ Though he embraces mail he receives from Jewish fans and laughs about his nickname, the Giants’ reserve outfielder wants to distinguish himself by more than his religion. ‘Being Jewish is what makes me unique on this team,’ he said. ‘I understand it’s rare, but I’m a baseball player who just happens to be Jewish. Hopefully, I’ll eventually do something on the field that sets me apart.'” (San Francisco Chronicle; June 20, 2008)
• “Though Horwitz said he doesn’t observe every aspect of Judaism and hasn’t researched the history of Jewish players, he was struck by a documentary about Hank Greenberg…’I had to be sitting in my hotel room at that exact time, had to turn to that channel at that exact time and they had to be playing that show at that exact time,’ Horwitz said. ‘Things happen for a reason, and things are really coming together for me right now. Stars are aligning. Things are happening. Opportunities are coming.'” (San Francisco Chronicle; June 20, 2008)

For more information

• Baseball-Reference page
• Jewish Baseball Museum bio
• Baseball cards

Career batting