By Scott Barancik, Editor

Here are your minor-league highlights from the week of July 3-9, 2017:

Borenstein

Borenstein

Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week: Zach Borenstein*

LF Zach Borenstein* (Diamondbacks/AAA) hit .417 (10-for-24) with 3 HRs, 4 doubles, 3 walks and 12 RBIs, including a 3-run, go-ahead home run on July 6 that proved the game-winner. So far this season, the 26-year-old Illinois native is hitting .278 with 13 HRs, 47 RBIs, a .372 on-base percentage and a .936 OPS.

Zeid

Zeid

Jewish Baseball News Pitcher of the Week: Josh Zeid*

  • P Josh Zeid* (Cardinals/AAA) pitched 9 scoreless innings across 2 appearances. In a July 4 relief stint, he yielded 4 hits and no walks over 4.1 innings while striking out 5 and earning the win (teammate Ryan Sherriff* added a scoreless inning). And in a July 9 start, the 30-year-old righty yielded a hit and a walk over 5 innings while striking out 4.

Professional debuts

Two players selected in June’s MLB draft and one signed as an undrafted free agent made their pro debuts last week:

  • SS Elliott Barzilli (Marlins/rookie), a 23rd-round pick, went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs on his pro debut July 7, stroking a home run, double and single.
  • P Keith Weisenberg (Braves/rookie), a 14th-round pick, pitched 0.2 scoreless innings on July 3, yielding one hit and a walk.
  • P Spencer Kulman (Padres/rookie), an undrafted signee, pitched 2 scoreless innings on July 8, yielding 3 hits and no walks while striking out 2.

Season debuts

  • P Jake Fishman (Blue Jays/A-short-season), a 2016 draftee, held opponents scoreless in 3 relief appearances last week, yielding 2 hits and 2 walks over 4 combined innings while striking out 6.

Other highlights

  • C Ryan Lavarnway* (Athletics/AAA) was called-up to the Majors to fill in for a player who went on paternity leave. He was 0-for-2 on July 7 and then was designated for assignment on July 8.
  • 1B Ike Davis* (Dodgers/AAA) hit .364 (4-for-11) with a home run, 3 doubles, a walk and one RBI.
  • 1B Cody Decker* (Mets/AAA) hit .400 (4-for-10) with a double, 2 walks and 2 RBIs.
  • C Ryan Gold (Blue Jays/rookie) hit .353 (6-for-17) with a triple, home run, walk and 10 RBIs. Since making his season debut on June 22, the 2016 draftee has a team-high 16 RBIs in just 34 at-bats.
  • C Mitchell Kranson (Twins/High-A) hit .344 (11-for-32) with a HR, walk and 3 RBIs.
  • 2B Adam Walton (Diamondback/A) hit .381 (8-for-21) with a double, triple, home run and 6 RBIs.
  • C Andy Yerzy (Diamondbacks/rookie) hit .333 (7-for-21) with a double and 5 RBIs.
  • P Corey Baker* (Cardinals/AA) notched 2 saves in 2 appearances, yielding one earned run on 2 hits and no walks over 4.1 combined innings while striking out 6. So far this season, he is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA and 6 saves in 6 chances.
  • P Brandon Gold (Rockies/High-A) rebounded from a tough July 4 outing (5 IP, 11 H, 7 ER) with a win on July 9, tossing 7 innings of 2-run ball while yielding 7 hits and no walks and striking out 6.
  • P Sam Delaplane (Mariners/rookie), a 2017 draftee, has yet to give up an earned run in three relief appearances. Over a combined 6 innings, he has yielded 4 hits and one walk while striking out an impressive 11 batters.
  • P Dean Kremer* (Dodgers/High-A) held opponents scoreless in 2 relief appearances, yielding just 2 hits and no walks over 5 combined innings while striking out 5. As a starter this season, Kremer was 0-2 with a 7.06 ERA and gave up 1.85 walks/hits per innings. As a reliever, he’s 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA and is yielding 1.23 walks/hits per inning.
  • P Mitchell Osnowitz (Red Sox), who had been on the disabled list since June 10, appeared twice in a rehab assignment with Boston’s A-short-season team. In 1.1 combined innings, he yielded no earned runs, 1 hit and 4 walks while striking out 4.
  • P Ryan Sherriff* (Cardinals/AAA) was perfect in three relief appearances and earned one save. Across 3.1 combined innings, he yielded zero hits or walks while striking out 3. Sherriff is holding opposing batters to just 0.95 walks/hits per inning and has given up just 7 walks in 40 innings.
  • P Robert Stock (Reds/AA) was nearly perfect in a 3.1-inning relief appearance, yielding one hit and no walks while striking out 4 and picking up his fourth Double-A win this season.
  • P Joey Wagman* (Athletics/High-A) held opponents scoreless in 2 relief appearances, yielding 2 hits and a walk over 4 combined innings while striking out 4.

Transactions

  • C Ryan Lavarnway* (Athletics/AAA) was called-up to the Majors on July 5 and then was designated for assignment on July 8.
  • P Jake Fishman (Blue Jays) was assigned to Toronto’s A-short-season team.
  • P Mitchell Osnowitz (Red Sox/A-short-season) came off the disabled list on July 4.
  • LF Jake Thomas (Blue Jays/High-A) was demoted from Double-A on July 8. A month before, Toronto had skipped him from Single-A to Double-A.
  • P Jared Lakind* (Pirates/Double-A) was released by the Pirates on July 7. He was 1-1 this season with a 6.81 ERA.
  • LF Mike Meyers (Red Sox/High-A) joined the disabled list on July 4.
  • P Troy Neiman* (Rockies/AA) joined the disabled list on July 4.

Free agents

  • Players believed to be seeking employment include former major leaguer Sam Fuld* and minor leaguer Jason Richman.

Disabled list

2017 draft picks

The following players selected in June’s amateur draft are Jewish. The list may grow as additional athletes are verified by Jewish Baseball News and our friends at Jewish Sports Review. Players 1-9 have signed minor-league contracts. Players 10-11 have decided to continue their education rather than sign:

  1. Max Lazar (P), Brewers (Round 11, #324)
  2. Keith Weisenberg (P), Braves (14/410)
  3. Sam Delaplane (P), Mariners (23/693)
  4. Jordan Scheftz (P), Indians (23/702)
  5. Harrison Simon (P), Padres (24/708)
  6. Preston Grand Pre (SS), Dodgers (24/730)
  7. Zane Gurwitz (2B), Angels (26/775)
  8. Elliott Barzilli (3B), Marlins (32/959)
  9. Andy Rohloff (P), Giants (37/1116)
  10. Dylan Horvitz (C), White Sox (38/1137)
  11. Jacob Hoffman (SS), Athletics (40/1191)

Note to readers: Minor-League Monday does not include stats for all current Jewish minor-leaguers. Click here for a complete list of players, and then click on a player’s name to be taken to his stat page.

Members of Team Israel’s 2017 squad are marked with an asterisk.

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