JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Joke about minyans if you must, but when the 2010 Major League Baseball season debuts on Sun., Apr. 4, 10 Jewish players will be featured on league rosters.

There were some close calls. Scott Schoeneweis was released by the Milwaukee Brewers on Mar. 23, and the 36-year-old relief pitcher declined an option to play for the team’s AAA squad. But the Boston Red Sox scooped Schoeneweis up soon after, and on Apr. 2, the Sox reportedly gave him the final spot in their bullpen.

Ike Davis nearly was Jew #11 on MLB rosters. The 23-year-old first baseman had a phenomenal spring training with the New York Mets, batting .480 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in only 25 at-bats. But the team sent him down anyway, keeping him there even after starting 1B Daniel Murphy sprained his knee on Mar. 30.

— Scott Barancik