By Scott Barancik, Editor
Here are your minor-league highlights from the week of June 18-24, 2018:
Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week: Zach Borenstein*
LF Zach Borenstein* (Mets/AAA) hit .450 (9-for-20) with a .542 on-base percentage last week. Highlights included a 4-for-5 performance on June 18, when he stroked a home run and 3 doubles, and a walk-off RBI double on June 24.
Jewish Baseball News Pitcher of the Week: Kenny Rosenberg
- P Kenny Rosenberg (Rays/High-A) was nearly perfect in a June 22 start, yielding one hit and no walks over 6 innings while striking out a career-high 10.
Mazel tov
- P Robert Stock (Padres) was called up on June 24 and made his MLB debut the same day. After yielding a double, Stock retired the next three batters, two of them on swinging strikes (see article).
- OF Blake Gailen*, who was released by the Dodgers last year despite hitting .300 with its Double-A club, is tearing up the Atlantic League, which is known as the most competitive pro league outside of minor-league baseball. The 5’8″ powerhouse leads the Atlantic with 12 HRs and 49 RBIs.
- 1B Rowdy Tellez (Blue Jays/AAA) is playing better now that his beloved mother is cancer-free (see article).
- Teammates LF Zach Borenstein* (Mets/AAA) and 2B Ty Kelly* (Mets/AAA), who also played together on Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, had four hits apiece in a June 18 victory.
- P Rob Kaminsky (Indians/AA), who recently returned to the mound after more than a year off due to injuries, is content to make the switch from starter to reliever and believes it might hasten his call-up to the majors (see article).
Other highlights
- C Garrett Stubbs (Astros/AAA) hit .300 with an RBI, stolen base and a .364 on-base percentage.
- RF Rhett Wiseman (Nationals/High-A) hit 333 (3-for-9) with a double, RBI and .538 on-base percentage.
- C Scott Manez (Mets/A) hit .455 (5-for-11) with a .538 on-base percentage, including a 4-for-4 performance on June 22.
- P Matthew Gorst (Red Sox/AA) pitched 2 scoreless innings on June 22, yielding a walk and a hit while striking out 2 in his first appearance at the Double-A level.
- P Brad Goldberg* (Diamondbacks/AA) pitched 2 scoreless innings across 2 games, yielding zero hits and 3 walks while striking out 5 and earning his third save in 3 chances.
- P Jake Miednik (Indians/rookie), a 2018 draftee, was perfect in his first two pro appearances, yielding no hits or walks across 2.2 innings while striking out 5.
- P Simon Rosenblum-Larson (Rays/A-short-season), a 2018 draftee, earned a save in his second pro appearance. The 21-year-old righty tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, yielding 2 hits and zero walks while striking out 7.
- P Max Lazar (Brewers/rookie) pitched 5.1 innings of one-run ball to earn a win on June 22, yielding 5 hits and zero walks while fanning 3.
- P Keith Weisenberg (Braves/rookie) made his season debut on June 23, yielding 3 hits and zero walks over 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out 5.
Draft update
- P Jake Miednik (Indians/rookie), selected by Cleveland in the 20th round of the 2018 amateur draft, made his pro debut on June 20.
- OF Albee Weiss (Twins/rookie), selected by Minnesota in the 23rd round of the 2018 amateur draft, made his pro debut on June 20.
- Loyola Marymount P Tyler Cohen (Rangers/rookie), an undrafted free agent, signed with Texas on June 20 and made his pro debut on June 24.
Transactions
- P Robert Stock (Padres) was called-up on June 24 and made his Major League debut the same day.
- P Zack Weiss (Reds/AAA) came off the disabled list on June 19 and made three rehab appearances with Cincinnati’s rookie-league team.
- P Craig Breslow* (Blue Jays/AA) came off the disabled list on June 23
- P Jake Fishman (Blue Jays/AAA) was promoted to Triple-A on June 24.
- C Michael Barash (Angels/AAA) was promoted to Triple-A on June 21.
- P Matthew Gorst (Red Sox/AA) was promoted to Double-A on June 21.
- P Rob Kaminsky (Indians/AA) was promoted to Double-A on June 20.
- SS Scotty Burcham* (Rockies/AA) entered the disabled list on June 21.
- LF Adrian Spitz (Athletics/A-short-season) was released on June 20.
- P Tyler Cohen (Rangers/rookie), an undrafted free agent, signed with Texas on June 20.
- P Joey Wagman*, a former Athletics and White Sox prospect, signed with the Lincoln Salt Dogs of the independent American Association league.
Free agents
- Former major- and minor-leaguers believed to be seeking employment include Scott Feldman, Elliott Barzilli, Dalton Blumenfeld, Mike Meyers*, Troy Neiman*, Adrian Spitz and Jeremy Wolf.
- Ike Davis*, a former major leaguer who tried to reinvent himself as a pitcher in 2017, is rumored to have retired, but this is unconfirmed.
Disabled list
- SS Scotty Burcham (Rockies/AA), since June 21.
- 1B Cody Decker (Diamondbacks/AAA, since June 8.
- P Ryan Sherriff (Cardinals/AAA), since May 18. Out for season with Tommy John surgery.
- P Mitchell Osnowitz (Cardinals/High-A), since April 9.
- P R C Orlan* (Indians/AA).
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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