Jewish Baseball News

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Peoria Javelinas crushed the Phoenix Desert Dogs 16-8 on Monday (11/8/2010). The win upped Peoria’s record to 14-7, tops in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.

• Javelinas 2B Jason Kipnis, a Cleveland Indians prospect, tripled twice, walked, and scored two runs while playing DH. For the season, Kipnis is hitting just .196 in 56 at-bats. But the 23-year-old Arizona State recruit has 12 RBIs, and nine of his 11 hits have been for extra bases (3 doubles, triples and HRs apiece).

• Javelinas C Ryan Lavarnway, a Boston Red Sox prospect, went 3/6 with a solo HR. The 23-year-old Yale recruit was less effective in the field, yielding 2 passed balls and allowing one stolen base. For the season he’s batting .288 with 2 HRs, 8 RBIs and a .419 on-base percentage. His 14 walks are tied for 2nd-best in the AFL.

The AFL has posed special challenges for Kipnis and Lavarnway.

Though the Indians only recently converted Kipnis from outfielder to second baseman, he had the misfortune of being teamed on the Javelinas with highly-touted 2B Dustin Ackley, the #2 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft. With Ackley on board, Kipnis has played in just 14 of the Javelinas’ 21 games and has split his time between second base, third base and DH. Such changes appear to have hurt his confidence at the plate (for insight, see his blog). During the 2010 regular season, he hit over .300.

But Kipnis’ problem will melt away when the AFL season ends later this month and Dustin Ackley returns to the Seattle Mariners’ farm system. Not so for teammate Lavarnway.

The main thing standing between Lavarnway — a power-hitter with an excellent eye — and the Majors is his defensive play. The Red Sox sent Lavarnway to Peoria primarily to work on his catching skills, but he has continued to struggle with passed balls there.

The Javelinas have 8 games left to play this season. The AFL championship will take place on Saturday, Nov. 20.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Here’s the latest news on several MLB players:

Youkilis may switch back to 3B in 2011

Boston Red Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis, whose season-ending thumb injury helped scuttle the team’s playoff hopes year, says he’s ready to switch back to 3B if needed in 2011. It’s a possibility because Red Sox 3B Adrian Beltre has opted for free agency.

As you may recall, Youkilis began his MLB career at 3B, in 2004. The Bosox switched him to 1B in 2006, and in a remarkable demonstration of versatility, Youkilis won a Gold Glove at 1B in 2007, only his second year at the position. In 2010 he started all but two games at 1B.

Kinsler to work on speed in off-season

No one in Texas is complaining about Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler these days. After an injury-shortened regular season, Kinsler was a post-season star in 2010 (or at least until the World Series). But the 28-year-old isn’t happy with his stolen-base output, which totaled 15 in 20 tries this year. It was the fewest steals since his rookie year in 2006, although to be fair Kinsler had just 391 at-bats in 2010, his fewest ever, and began the season on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle. Here’s what he told Sports Illustrated recently:

“I just need to get my speed back,” he said. “I didn’t steal as many bases as I’d like this year. I didn’t really feel comfortable stealing bases because I wasn’t able to catch up with my speed after the spring training injury.”

Interestingly, Kinsler suffered a bigger drop-off in power in 2010 than he did in speed, hitting just 9 HRs after averaging 21 in his first four MLB seasons.

Knee surgery will delay Feldman’s 2011 debut

Texas Rangers SP Scott Feldman recently had surgery on his right knee and will have a limited role at 2011 spring training, ESPN.com reported.

Feldman, who was the Rangers’ pitcher of the year in 2009 and opening-day starter this year, had a dismal season, going 7-11 with a 5.48 ERA. He was moved to the bullpen mid-season and went on the 15-day disabled list in August for a bone bruise to the same knee.

Kapler is a free agent

Tampa Bay Rays RF Gabe Kapler is one of 10 Rays players to opt for free agency this Fall. Whether the weak-hitting defensive specialist will be picked up is unclear. Kapler hit .210 in 124 at-bats this year, with 2 HRs and 14 RBIs.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The West beat the East 3-2 in the Arizona Fall League’s “Rising Stars” game Saturday night (11/6/2010), and the 3 Jews selected to play in the nationally-broadcast showcase performed well.

Playing for the victorious West:

• C Ryan Lavarnway, a Boston Red Sox prospect, went 1/2. He led off a third-inning rally with a single but later was tossed out at home plate.
• 2B Jason Kipnis, the Cleveland Indians’ minor-league player of the year in 2010, doubled in his only at-bat. In a recent trend, he played 3B rather than 2B.

Playing for the East:

• SP Josh Zeid, a Philadelphia Phillies prospect who was voted Best Class-A Reliever this year, pitched a perfect 4th inning.

Fifty of the prestigious Arizona Fall League’s 180 players were chosen to play in the Rising Stars game. Although most play at the Class AA or AAA minor-league level, Zeid — a 6’5″ righty from New Haven, Conn. — played for the “A” Lakewood BlueClaws in 2010.

More than half of those who played in last year’s Rising Stars game were called-up to the Majors at some point in 2010.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — New York Mets prospect Josh Satin hasn’t gotten much playing time in the Arizona Fall League, but he’s made the most of those opportunities.

On Friday (11/5/2010), Satin led the Mesa Solar Sox to a 13-5 win over the Surprise Rafters, going 3/5 with a 3-run HR and a 2-run single (see photo). He’s hitting .476 for the season in just 21 at-bats.

The 25-year-old North Hollywood native was among the top Jewish performers during the 2010 regular season. In a year split between the “A-advanced” St. Lucie Mets and the “AA” Binghamton Mets, he hit a combined .311 (3rd highest among minor-league Jews) with 39 doubles (2nd), 12 HRs, 74 RBIs (3rd/tie), and .399 on-base percentage (2nd/tie).

He also was named MVP of the 2010 Carolina League All-Star Game. Satin tied the game with a two-run HR in the 8th inning and hit a go-ahead single in the 10th to give the South division a 5-4 win.

Until midyear 2010, Satin mostly played 2B, but Binghamton split him evenly between 1B and 2B. In Friday’s game, he played 1B.

Surprise Rafters CF Ben Guez, a Detroit Tigers prospect, did not play Friday.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Baseball’s annual “Rising Stars” game will be broadcast on Saturday night (11/6/2010), and this year there’s even more reason than usual to watch.

The 50 minor-leaguers chosen to play in the showcase game include 19 former 1st-round draft picks, and as a group they are considered among the most likely to play MLB ball in 2011. More than half of the contestants in 2009’s Rising Stars game ended up in the Majors in 2010.

What’s more, this year’s squad includes 3 Jewish players:

• SP Josh Zeid. The Philadelphia Phillies prospect recently was named Best Reliever in Class A ball. Currently playing for the Mesa Solar Sox of the prestigious Arizona Fall League, the 6’5″ righty is 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 12 strikeouts and just one walk. See his blog here.
• C Ryan Lavarnway. The Boston Red Sox prospect led all Red Sox minor-leaguers with 102 RBIs in 2010. Currently playing for the AFL’s Peoria Javelinas, he is batting .264 with a .412 on-base percentage.
• 2B Jason Kipnis. The Cleveland Indians named him the franchise’s top minor-league player in 2010. Currently playing alongside Ryan Lavarnway on the Javelinas, he is batting .173 but has 3 HRs and 12 RBIs in just 52 at-bats. See his blog here.

OF Ben Guez was not selected to play. The Detroit Tigers prospect is currently batting .308 for the AFL’s Surprise Rafters and is ranked 7th among all AFL players in OPS (1.041), a statistic that combines a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

The Rising Stars game will be broadcast nationally at 9:00pm ET Saturday night on the MLB Network. It also will be shown online at MLB.com.

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Mr. Kalish

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Several months ago, Jewish Baseball News readers began asking about CF Ryan Kalish of the Boston Red Sox. Could the splashy rookie be a Member of the Tribe?

We decided to look into it. After pleasant but inconclusive chats with Kalish’s parents, including his Jewish father, we tried to contact the player directly. Kalish didn’t respond to our inquiries, however. Taking that as a ‘No’, we reluctantly labeled him “Not a Jew.”

But all that changed this week when we received a phone call from our friends at Jewish Sports Review. The news? Ryan Kalish, through a Red Sox spokesman, had consented to be listed in future editions of JSR’s bi-monthly publication. In other words, the 22-year-old was ready to openly declare his Jewishness.

As a result, Jewish Baseball News will now track Kalish much as we do other MLB Jews. Our only regret is that we didn’t get it right the first time, and crossed signals with JSR.

In our conversations this summer, Kalish’s parents were generous about discussing what is, after all, a very private matter. Steven Kalish is Jewish, had his Bar Mitzvah as a youth. But Eileen Kalish is Catholic, and the couple raised Ryan in her tradition. He was baptized, confirmed, and educated at a Catholic high school. “I fulfilled my guilt,” Eileen joked.

Sending Ryan to Catholic school didn’t exactly have the intended effect, however. “I think it made him question faith even more,” Eileen said. “He thinks there’s something up there, but he’s not sure what.”

“(Ryan) doesn’t identify strongly with any religion,” Steven Kalish added. Today, the family attends neither church nor synagogue. At most, they light the Chanukah candles and decorate the Christmas tree.

While some critics may question Kalish’s Jewishness, Jewish Baseball News defines “Jewish” broadly. If a player has a Jewish parent (or has converted to Judaism); does not practice another faith; and does not object to being identified as a Jew, we include him.

Kalish’s presence raises to 15 the number of Jews who played MLB ball in 2010. The only other rookie on the list, 3B Danny Valencia of the Minnesota Twins, was identified as Jewish in July.

We welcome Ryan Kalish to the Jewish baseball family. Please feel free to send him your own greetings in the Comments section below.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Craig Breslow needs your help. Years after watching his 14-year-old sister successfully fight thyroid cancer, the Oakland A’s star reliever created a non-profit group to support pediatric cancer research. A week from this Saturday (10/13/2010), the Strike 3 Foundation will host its annual celebrity dinner in Stamford, Conn. Craig would like everyone at Jewish Baseball News to buy tickets if they can. If you can’t attend, please show your heart with a donation to his organization.

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My name is Craig Breslow, and I am a pitcher for the Oakland A’s, a Yale Graduate, and the Founder/President of the Strike 3 Foundation, a charity which raises funding for local pediatric cancer research and treatment centers. Over the last year, Strike 3 has contributed over $100,000 as a founding sponsor of Connecticut’s first pediatric bone-marrow transplantation program.

Our signature fundraiser, the First Pitch Celebrity Gala, will take place on Saturday, November 13, at the Stamford Hilton Hotel. The event will feature made-to-order hand-rolled sushi, wine tasting, raw bar, sit-down dinner, entertainment, and cake donated by Carlo’s Bakery, home of the Cake Boss. Last year’s keynote speaker was Nomar Garciaparra, followed by a musical performance by Reggae superstar Shaggy. Celebrities scheduled to attend this year’s event include 2-time MLB All-Star Andrew Bailey, Jack Cust, Rajai Davis, Vin Mazzaro, Kevin Slowey, Sergeant Slaughter, Howard Finkel, Matt Striker, Carl Bakes, Kim Jones, Suzyn Waldman, and many, many others. The evening will be hosted by former New York Mets and Texas Rangers manager Bobby Valentine and ESPN SportsCenter anchor Karl Ravech.

Tables may be reserved at a price of $1,950 for 10 tickets. Individual tickets also are available.  I urge you to please consider supporting such a meaningful cause.

Thank you,

Craig Breslow

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The San Francisco Giants won the 2010 World Series on Monday night (11/1/2010) by beating the Texas Rangers 3-1 in Game 5.

Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, the lone Jew in the Series, was one of only 3 Ranger baserunners for the night. He drew a walk with one out in the 7th inning but was stranded when Giants SP Tim Lincecum struck out the next 2 batters. Kinsler was on-deck in the 9th inning when Nelson Cruz struck out to end the game.

For the series, Kinsler batted .188, a shade below the Rangers’ anemic team average of .190, although he had a somewhat more palatable on-base percentage of .316. Kinsler hit .444 in the first round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Rays and .250 in the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees.

Kinsler and the Rangers fared much better in a computer-simulated World Series run by USA Today. Although San Francisco won the actual Series 4 games to 1, the Rangers won the “Sim Series” by the same margin. Kinsler clinched the Game 5 win with an 8th-inning HR.

Congrats to the Giants for a well-played Series.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Texas Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler may be the only Jew playing in the 2010 World Series, but he’s got some company in the Minor Leagues.

Both World Series teams have Jewish players in their farm systems. And while none is likely to make the Majors in 2011, a couple show some promise.

The San Francisco Giants employ at least three tribe members:

• C Aaron Lowenstein, 25, of the “AA” Richmond Flying Squirrels. Selected in the 44th round (1,137th overall) of the 2008 amateur draft. Split the 2010 season between the Squirrels and the “A-advanced” San Jose Giants. Hit a combined .194 with 0 HRs, 4 RBIs and 5 doubles over 93 at-bats.
• SP Ari Ronick, 24, of the “A” Augusta GreenJackets. Selected in the 12th round (357th overall) of the 2008 amateur draft. In three 2010 starts, Ronick went 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA.
• SP Justin Schumer, 22,  “A-short season” Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. Not drafted. Split the 2010 season between the Volcanoes and the “rookie-league” AZL Giants. In 5 starts and 4 relief appearances, went a combined 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA and held opposing batters to a .196 average.

As for the Rangers, Kinsler teammate and SP Scott Feldman didn’t make the post-season roster, but at least 2 Jews play for the franchise’s “AA” squad:

• SP Richard Bleier, 23, of the “AA” Frisco RoughRiders. Selected in the 6th round (183rd overall) of the 2008 amateur draft. In 2010, went 7-11 with a 5.04 ERA but had a strikeout/walk ratio of 82/28.
• SP Michael Schlact, 24, of the “AA” Frisco RoughRiders. Selected in the 3rd round (81st overall) of the 2004 amateur draft. Split the 2010 between Frisco and the “A-advanced” Bakersfield Blaze. Went a combined 4-5 with a 6.08 ERA.

Schlact, a 6’7″ right-hander, is the only player among those mentioned to skip college. He was drafted out of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The San Francisco Giants defeated the Texas Rangers 4-0 on Sunday night (10/31/2010), giving them a 3-1 lead in the 2010 World Series and leaving them one win short of a championship.

Giants SP Madison Bumgarner — who is not Jewish — pitched a gem, giving up just 3 hits and 2 walks over 8 scoreless innings.

Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, the lone Jew in the Series, drew a walk, was robbed of a hit by Giants LF Cody Ross in the 5th inning (see video at 1:10 mark), and lined out to LF again in the 7th, this time with two outs and men on first and second bases.

Like many of his teammates, Kinsler started strong in the 2010 post-season but has since succumbed to increasingly strong pitching. In Texas’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the 28-year-old Arizona native hit a scorching .444, stroking 3 HRs and driving in 6 runs over 18 at-bats. In the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, Kinsler hit .250 with 3 RBIs.

So far against the Giants he’s batting .214, with one extra-base hit and no RBIs.

Game 5 of the 7-game Series takes place tonight (11/1/2010) in Arlington, Tex.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Texas Rangers finally took one from the San Francisco Giants, winning 4-2 Saturday night (10/30/2010) and reducing the the Giants’ lead in the 2010 World Series to 2-1.

Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, the lone Jew in the Series, singled, stole a base, and struck out twice. According to MLB.com, he laughed when asked afterward if this was the “real” Rangers that had showed up. “When we win, it’s the real Rangers. When we lose, it’s the fake version,” he joked.

Game 4 of the 7-game Series takes place tonight (10/31/2010) in Arlington, Tex.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The San Francisco Giants whipped the Texas Rangers 9-0 in Game 2 of the 2010 World Series on Thursday (10/28/2010).

Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, the lone Jew in the Series, missed a HR by 1-2 inches when his 5th-inning smash to dead center hit the very top of the wall (see video). He settled for a double at a time when the game was scoreless and thus still up for grabs.

MLB.com went on to compliment Kinsler’s post-season play:

For his part, Kinsler — who did not address the media after Game 2 — continues to put together a tremendous postseason. He has hit safely in 11 of 13 games, starting by hitting safely with a run scored in his first five games to tie Nomar Garciaparra (Red Sox, 1998-99) for the longest such streak to begin a postseason career. Kinsler’s double was his sixth extra-base hit of the postseason, and he carries a .326 average (15-for-46) through his first 13 contests.

Game 3 of the seven-game series takes place Saturday (10/30/2010) in Arlington, Tex.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The San Francisco Giants took Game 1 of the 2010 World Series on Wednesday (10/27/2010), defeating the Texas Rangers 11-7.

Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, the lone Jew in the Series, had a mixed game. He scored once and reached base twice, drawing a walk in the 7th inning and getting an infield hit in the 8th. He also helped turn a double play.

But Kinsler hit into a bases-loaded double play in the 1st inning. And he was tagged out after rounding 1st base on his 8th-inning single. Kinsler thought 2B Freddy Sanchez’s wide throw went past 1B Aubrey Huff, but Huff dove to save the ball and then retired him.

Rangers previously invincible SP Cliff Lee took the loss, yielding six earned runs over 4-and-2/3 innings. Game 2 of the seven-game series takes place tonight (10/28/2010) in San Francisco.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — San Francisco Giants rookie SP Madison Bumgarner is slated to pitch Game 4 of the 2010 World Series against the Texas Rangers. But he definitely won’t be wearing a kipa.

A number of readers recently asked Jewish Baseball News whether Bumgarner, a 21-year-old out of Hickory, N.C., is Jewish. It’s not clear why. Does “Bumgarner” sound suspiciously like “Baumgarten,” as in former MLB pitcher (and Member of the Tribe) Ross Baumgarten? Does he “look” Jewish? (One reader wrote, perhaps jokingly: “What a punim.”)

Our initial research left little doubt about Bumgarner’s faith. A recent obituary for his half-sister identified her as a member of the Christian Fellowship Chapel, for example. (Our sincere condolences to the Bumgarner family.)

A publicist for the Giants deleted our e-mail without reading it. But as often is the case, the player’s mother was gracious enough to respond to our somewhat petty inquiry.

Are you or Madison’s father Jewish, we asked Debbie Bumgarner? “Thank you,” she wrote. “We are Baptist. Have a great day.”

Madison Bumgarner: not a Jew.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Another day, another accolade for 2B Jason Kipnis.

On Oct. 21, the Cleveland Indians named Kipnis the franchise’s 2010 Minor League Player of the Year. It’s just the latest recognition of what has been a remarkable year for the 23-year-old standout.

According to this MLB.com article, Kipnis currently ranks third on the Indians’ depth chart at second base, giving him an outside chance at getting some MLB playing time in 2011. Not bad when you consider Kipnis was an outfielder until being switched to second base this year.

Coincidentally, the precise title of the Indians’ annual honor is the “Lou Boudreau Award.” A Hall of Fame shortstop who went on to become a manager and broadcaster, Boudreau was raised Christian but his mother was Jewish.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Philadelphia Phillies prospect Josh Zeid has received a MiLBY award for Best Reliever at the Class A level.

Zeid, 23, was the top vote-getter among six nominees, receiving 39 percent of all votes cast. The award is issued by Minor League Baseball.

A 10th-round pick in the 2009 draft, the 6’5″ native of New Haven, Conn., spent 2010 with the “A” Lakewood BlueClaws, working both as a reliever and a starter. He finished the season 8-4 with 8 saves, a 2.93 ERA, 111 strikeouts — one per inning — and only 27 walks.

Zeid also helped the BlueClaws capture the South Atlantic League title. In the final game of the championship series, he pitched 4 perfect innings and struck out 5 consecutive batters.

Zeid is spending the off-season playing for the Mesa Solar Sox of the prestigious Arizona Fall League, and blogging about it for MLB.com.

Earlier this week, he made a little bit of history. In an Oct. 20 game against the Scottsdale Scorpions, Zeid faced No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper in what would be the 18-year-old phenom’s first official professional at-bat. Zeid got the Washington Nationals prospect to pop out to the shortstop.

Congratulations, Josh!

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Today (10/25/2010) is your last chance to cast a vote for Philadelphia Phillies prospect Josh Zeid, one of six Class A pitchers nominated by minor-league baseball for its 2010 Best Reliever award, known as a MiLBY.

A 10th-round pick in the 2009 draft, Zeid spent 2010 with the “A” Lakewood BlueClaws, both as a reliever and a starter. He finished the season 8-4 with 8 saves, a 2.93 ERA, 111 strikeouts — one per inning — and only 27 walks.

Zeid also helped the BlueClaws capture the South Atlantic League title. In the final game of the championship series, he pitched 4 perfect innings and struck out 5 consecutive batters. The 23-year-old is spending the off-season playing for the Mesa Solar Sox of the prestigious Arizona Fall League, and blogging about it for MLB.com.

To cast votes for Zeid — fans will determine the winner — surf on over to this page; click the bubble next to his name under “Class A-Full Season/Best Reliever”; click “Vote”; and repeat as often as you like. It’s not scientific: the player with the most click-happy family, friends and fans wins.

As of this morning, Zeid led the pack with 40 percent of the vote, but RP Steve Ames of the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers) was close behind with 35 percent.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Peoria Javelinas beat the Peoria Saguaros 7-2 on Saturday (10/23/2010), and 2 of its 3 Jewish players were instrumental.

2B Jason Kipnis, a Cleveland Indians prospect, hit a two-run HR,, walked, and stole a base. Kipnis has been in a minor slump since driving in five runs on Oct. 15. Although he is tied for 3rd in the prestigious Arizona Fall League with 9 RBIs, the 2009 draft pick (2nd round, 63rd overall) is batting just .161 over 8 games (5/35).

C Ryan Lavarnway, who led all Boston Red Sox minor-leaguers with 102 RBIs in 2010, went 1/2, walked twice and scored a run while serving as DH. After 7 AFL games, the 2008 draft pick (6th round, 202nd overall) is batting .273 with 1 HR, 5 RBIs and a .452 on-base percentage.

RP Eric Berger, also an Indians prospect, did not play Saturday.

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Texas Rangers are headed to their first World Series in team history, and 2B Ian Kinsler is more than just along for the ride.

In Friday night’s 7-1 clincher against the New York Yankees (10/22/2010), the lone Jew remaining in the MLB playoffs stroked a double, hit a sacrifice fly, and drew a walk.

“It’s incredible,” Kinsler told MLB.com. “We set out all year to achieve our goal and in the clubhouse we never doubted it. A lot of people had doubts, but we never had doubts and we proved it.”

The 5th-year pro is among the Rangers’ post-season leaders in multiple categories:

• 9 RBIs (1st)
• .342 batting average (2nd)
• .409 on-base percentage (2nd)
• .658 slugging percentage (2nd)
• 5 walks (2nd)
• 5 extra-base hits (2nd/tie)
• 3 HRs (3rd)
• 2 doubles (3rd)

In fact, Kinslers’ 9 RBIs are more than any MLB player has had this post-season, and his .342 batting average ranks 3rd.

If SP Scott Feldman hadn’t gone 7-11 this season with a bloated 5.48 ERA, he might be joining Kinsler in the Fall Classic, but the Rangers understandably left him off the team’s post-season roster.

The 1st game of the 2010 World Series takes place Wednesday night (10/27/2010).

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JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — OF Ben Guez of the Surprise Rafters helped carry his team to an 11-4 win over the Peoria Saguaros on Thursday (10/21/2010).

The Detroit Tigers prospect went 4/5 with a solo HR, an RBI double, and 3 runs scored.

Guez delivered in the field, too. After catching a fly ball in the 7th inning, he quickly tossed it to 2nd base to double-off a Saguaros runner.

After five games in the Arizona Fall League, the 23-year-old is batting .333, with 2 HRs, 4 RBIs and a .762 slugging percentage.

Much like in the regular season, Guez is striking out a lot, too: nine times in 21 at-bats.

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