Career highlights

• Selected by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Tulane in the 10th round of the 2009 amateur draft (317th overall), earning a $10,000 bonus
• Started 15 games for the Williamsport Crosscutters in his rookie season, going 8-and-5 with a 2.94 ERA, 72 strikeouts, 20 walks, and only one HR surrendered (2009)
• Led the Lakewood Blue Claws (A) in 2010 with an 8-4 record (1st), 8 saves (2nd), 2.93 ERA, 111 strikeouts (2nd), and only 27 walks
• Acquired by the Houston Astros in mid-2011, Zeid was converted to a 100% relief role
• Played with Team Israel in the 2012 World Baseball Classic qualifiers
• Opened the 2013 season with the Oklahoma City Redhawks (AAA), his first time playing at the Triple-A level
• In his MLB debut, Zeid entered the game with one out in the 8th and his Astros down 4-3 to the O’s. He got cleanup hitter Adam Jones to pop out on the first pitch, walked MLB home-run leader Chris Davis, and retired Matt Wieters on one pitch to end the inning (7/30/2013)

On being Jewish

• In a 2012 interview, Zeid said the following: “I have not encountered any serious problems with my religion over my long career (high school all the way to current times). One thing that has been kind of illuminating has been the amount of people that have either never met a Jewish person, or who see my necklace, and are taken aback that a Jewish person could play professional sports. I never get offended by it, because Judaism isn’t as prevalent in the South or midwest, but that it is growing. I never try to separate myself from guys with other religions. If they say grace before a meal, or pray before a game, I don’t walk out, or I don’t turn my back to it; I embrace it, and I appreciate their religious background as I hope they would with mine.”

For more information

• Baseball-Reference page
• Jewish Baseball Museum bio