1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates), who limped onto the injured list June 25 after pulling a hamstring, has no fear. Consider his current rehab stint at Single-A. On July 21, in the four-year veteran’s first game with the Bradenton Marauders, he singled, walked twice, and—perhaps unwisely for a man with a bum hammy—stole second base. Four days later, Horwitz was struck in the face by an 88 mph four-seam fastball. Rather than exit the game, however, he stayed in and stroked a towering, game-tying home run on the first pitch of his very next at-bat (7/28/2026)
LHP Max Fried (Yankees) hadn’t pitched in the Majors in well over two months when he took the mound on July 22, but you would hardly know it. The 6-foot-4-inch southpaw threw five near-perfect innings with seven strikeouts in a 2-0 shutout of the Pirates. Fried needed just 57 pitches, and he allowed only two baserunners: one on a single, and one on a walk (7/7/28/2026)
DH Joc Pederson (Rangers) powered division-leader Texas to a 7-3 win over the Mariners on July 27, going 2-for-4 with two HRs and four RBIs. His first was a 418-foot bomb to lead off the 1st inning. The 13-season veteran has 19 HRs and has homered in 5.9% of all plate appearances—his highest rate since 2019 and seventh-best among AL hitters with at least 15 HRs, close behind stars like Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero (7/28/2026)
3B Alex Bregman (Cubs) went 4-for-5 with a home run, 2 doubles, a single, and 2 RBIs in a 7-3 victory over the Cardinals on July 27. It was Bregman’s 12th career game with 4+ hits—and his first with Chicago (7/28/2026)
LF Zach Levenson (Cardinals/AA) hadn’t homered in his last eight games when he took the field against the Royals affiliate on July 26. The 2023 draftee proceeded to smash a trio of round-trippers: a solo HR in the 2nd inning that put his team up 1-0, a solo HR in the 5th inning to tie the score at 2, and a grand slam in the 6th inning to break the game open, en route to a 9-3 win. The opposing pitcher gave Levenson nothing to hit in his fourth and final at-bat, walking him on four pitches (7/28/2026)
That’s a lotta Jew: three Jewish relievers appeared in the same Triple-A game on July 22. Yankees prospect Eric Reyzelman allowed one earned run over 1.1 innings with no hits, a walk, and two strikeouts. He was relieved by Jake Bird, who threw 1.2 scoreless innings with one walk and one strikeout. But it was RHP Ben Simon (Mets) who took the trophy, recording his third Triple-A save in four tries by retiring the side in the 9th inning on just seven pitches. The Mets affiliate beat the Yankees affiliate 5-4 (7/23/2026)
RHP Charlie Beilenson (Mariners/AAA) tossed a perfect inning of relief with one strikeout in his Triple-A debut, a 9-7 win over the Diamondbacks affiliate on July 21, and was credited with the victory. The 2024 draftee threw nine strikes in 13 pitches. Before his promotion, Beilenson had eight saves in Double-A, tied for second in the Texas League. His 2.03 ERA and 0.95 WHIP ranked second (40+ innings), while his 4.64 K/BB ratio ranked fourth (7/28/2026)
DH Rowdy Tellez (Braves/AAA) hit a game-tying home run in a July 21 loss to the Cubs affiliate, his 12th round-tripper of the season in 205 ABs and the fourth game in a six-game span in which he had homered. Through July 25, Tellez led the Gwinnett Stripers with an .890 OPS and .517 slugging percentage, ranked second with 12 HRs and a 130 wRC+, and ranked third with an 0.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 14.1% walk rate (7/28/2026)
RHP Josh Mallitz (Padres/AA) earned his team-leading fourth save in five chances in a 4-3 win over the 1st-place Rangers affiliate on July 25, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit and no walks and striking out three. Through July 25, Mallitz’s 2.80 strikeout-to-walk ratio was tops among San Antonio Missions pitchers with at least 40 innings (7/28/2026)
RHP Aaron Glickstein, a 29-year-old reliever with the Schaumburg Boomers of the independent Frontier League, is playing the best ball of his five seasons with the team. In 30.2 innings across 22 appearances this season, the SUNY-Stony Brook alum ranks second on the Boomers in ERA (2.64) and saves (3), first in WHIP (0.913) and fewest walks per nine innings (1.17), and 36 strikeouts against just four walks (7/28/2026)
1B Hank Zeisler, a 27-year-old in his fourth season with the Florence Y’alls of the independent Frontier League, is giving New York Boulders catcher Jason Agresti a run for his money at the plate. Zeisler ranks 11th in the league with a .340 batting average, is tied for second with 21 doubles, comes in fourth at 62 RBIs, and has produced 10 HRs, a .421 OBP, and a .970 OPS (7/28/2026)
3B Alex Bregman (Cubs) is heating up. Over six games through July 20, he hit .320 (8-for-25) with 3 HRs, a double, 8 RBIs, 3 walks, and a 1.113 OPS (7/21/2026)
RHP Dylan Cease (Blue Jays)—whose father is Jewish and who was on Israel’s preliminary roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic—started this year’s All-Star Game for the American League. He tossed a hitless inning with three strikeouts and a walk en route to a 4-0 victory over the National League. In a 2023 article in the Forward, Cease acknowledged his Jewish heritage but noted he did not “necessarily identify” as Jewish. According to author Bob Wechsler, RHP Steve Stone was the last Jewish pitcher to start an All-Star Game, representing the AL 46 years ago, in 1980. Stone, who went on to earn the AL Cy Young Award that season, tossed three perfect innings and struck out three. Before Stone, the only other known Jewish starter was LHP Sandy Koufax, who represented the NL in 1966, his final season. That year, he finished 27-9 with a 1.73 ERA, 27 complete games, a 0.985 WHIP, and 317 strikeouts (7/21/2026)
DH Joc Pederson and Jake Burger led the Rangers with 17 HRs apiece through July 20, though Pederson logged 84 fewer plate appearances. Pederson’s .827 OPS ranks third on the team. Since the All-Star Game, he has gone 5-for-11 with 2 HRs, a double, and 2 RBIs (7/21/2026)
Houston traded LHP Colton Gordon and RHP Lance McCullers Jr. to Milwaukee on July 15 in exchange for prospect Jadyn Fielder—son and grandson of former MLB stars Prince and Cecil Fielder, respectively—and cash. The deal ended Gordon’s six-year tenure with the Astros, who drafted him in the eighth round in 2021. It also came only days after Gordon earned his third Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week (July 6-12). At the time of the trade, Gordon ranked second in WHIP and third in walks-per-9-innings among all Pacific Coast League (AAA) pitchers with at least 40 innings. (Thanks to Ethel H. for these stats.) The Brewers assigned Gordon to Triple-A (7/21/2026)
Although no such Jew-for-Jew trade has been rumored, Bleacher Report suggested the Yankees could add power by dealing Triple-A pitchers Eric Reyzelman and Carlos Lagrange to the Athletics for IF/OF Zack Gelof (7/21/2026)
Talk about unexpected outcomes. RHP Max Lazar and C Garrett Stubbs each pitched one inning in Philadelphia’s 10-2 loss to Detroit on July 10, but Stubbs found more success. In the 7th inning, Lazar gave up 3 earned runs on 3 hits and one walk while striking out two. Stubbs relieved him in the 8th inning, needing just four pitches to retire the Tigers 1-2-3. His fastest pitch clocked in at a blazing 46 mph (7/21/2026)
A quick correction regarding C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies). A recent post about his roster spot claimed Stubbs had below-average sprint speed. JBN reader Ethel H. set us straight: as of July 19, the fan favorite’s peak s[eed of 26.6 feet per second ranked 29th out of 73 MLB catchers (7/21/2026)
Retired MLB All-Star and Gold Glove winner Ian Kinsler—who played for Israel in the 2020 Olympics and managed the team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic—is the proud dad of a champion. Jack Kinsler’s team won the USA Baseball Arizona 14U championship 10-1 on July 7, with Jack going 2-for-2 with two triples. “The challenge for Dad is trying to calm down, deliver the message, show it’s a learning moment, and that they can still have fun,” Ian told USA Baseball (7/21/2026)
If you want to know more about the late RF Richie Scheinblum, who hit .263 over an eight-year MLB career that ended in 1974, JBN reader Jeff F. recommends a 2008 article. Scheinblum, who lived in foster care until age 7, won the American Association MVP Award (Triple-A) in 1971 after hitting a league-record .388 (7/21/2026)
RHP Charlie Beilenson (Mariners/AA) is having quite a season. The third-year pro had eight saves through July 20, tied for second in the Texas League. Among league pitchers with at least 40 innings, his 2.03 ERA and 0.95 WHIP ranked second, while his 4.64 K/BB ratio ranked fourth (7/21/2026)
RHP Robert Stock (Mets/AAA), activated from the 60-day injured list on July 19, allowed one earned run on three hits and hit a batter over four innings with three strikeouts in his Triple-A season debut that day. The 36-year-old veteran previously struck out eight over 3.1 perfect innings in a High-A rehab start on July 10 (7/21/2026)
LHP Ryan Prager (Guardians/Single-A) allowed one earned run on four hits and a walk over five innings while striking out seven in a 4-1 win on July 18 against the Nationals’ first-place affiliate. In 13 games (4 starts) with the Hill City Howlers, the 2025 draftee is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA. His 13.78 strikeouts per 9 innings ranks No. 4 among all Carolina League pitchers (min. 30 innings). Prager also was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for May 25-31 (7/21/2026)
RHP Noah Millikan (Nationals/Rookie) has dominated since signing a minor-league contract with Washington on May 23, going 4-1 with a 0.90 ERA, an opponents’ batting average of .163, and 36 strikeouts in 30 innings to earn a starting rotation spot on July 1. Millikan has excelled at every level since graduating from the U. of Pennsylvania in 2025. He began his pro career that year with the Oakland Ballers of the hitter-friendly Pioneer League, where he finished 7-1 with a 2.12 ERA (No. 3 in the league) in 14 starts, 96 strikeouts (No. 7) against just 12 walks, and a 0.91 WHIP. (Read more here.) Before joining Washington, he opened 2026 with the Winnipeg Goldeyes (American Association), throwing five scoreless innings in his sole start (7/21/2026)
LF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AAA) rebounded from a slow start with a strong May, hitting .297 with 4 HRs, 25 RBIs, and a .435 OBP that month. Unfortunately, the prospect hurt himself stealing second on June 3 and remains on the injured list (7/21/2026)
RHP Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/Single-A) returned July 3 after spending more than a month on the injured list. In three rehab starts—the first with Arizona’s rookie-league team, the latter two at Single-A—the 6-foot-5-inch Orthodox pitcher posted a 2.25 ERA across eight innings, allowing 5 hits and 4 walks while striking out 13 batters. Steinmetz missed all of 2025 due to injuries (7/21/2026)
RHP Levi Sterling (Pirates/Single-A), just 19, leads the Florida State League with 87 strikeouts. A first-round draft pick in 2024, Sterling is 4-5 with a 4.67 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and a .217 opponents’ batting average. His finest start came July 12, when he allowed one earned run on 3 hits and no walks over 5 innings while striking out nine (7/21/2026)
July 9 was an auspicious day for professional baseball’s three Orthodox players: C Elie Kligman, 2B Zev Moore, and RHP Jacob Steinmetz. Kligman (State College Spikes) drew a bases-loaded walk in an 0-for-4 effort; Moore (Trenton Thunder) went 0-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and a steal; and Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/Single-A) tossed three scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk with four strikeouts (7/21/2026)
Mazel tov to C Jason Agresti (New York Boulders), brother of recent Angels draftee Adam Agresti, for being chosen to play in the independent Frontier League’s All-Star Game. Through July 20, Jason was hitting .348 (No. 7 in the league) with 7 HRs, 20 doubles (tied for No. 1), 46 RBIs, a .419 OBP, and a .945 OPS (7/21/2026)
University of Albany alum Dylan Banner, the 2026 America East Conference Pitcher of the Year, signed with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers (Atlantic League) on July 14. He joins fellow Jewish pitchers and former minor-league prospects Daniel Federman and Jake Miednik (7/21/2026)
Former independent-league player and Team Israel member Robb Paller is playing for the Twins Oosterhout in the Dutch Hoofdklasse league. Paller maximized limited action in 2025, hitting .409 (9-for-22) with 3 HRs, 3 doubles, 6 RBIs, 8 walks, .567 OBP, and 1.521 OPS before his team competed in the WBSC Baseball Champions League Europe, facing top clubs from Italy, Germany, Czechia, and Spain. Through July 18 this season, he was hitting .354 (No. 10 in the league) with 12 doubles (tied for No. 1), 20 RBIs (No. 10), a .536 OBP (No. 2), a .620 slugging percentage (No. 4), and a 1.156 OPS (7/21/2026)
At least four 2026 college graduates recently signed pro contracts with MLB Draft League teams. They include RHP Jacob Fried (Aberdeen Birds), a 6-foot-5-inch Loyola Marymount alum; C Elie Kligman (State College Spikes), who spent his senior season at the U. of Michigan; 2B Zev Moore (Trenton Thunder), an Israeli citizen and graduate of Division III Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and C Ethan Swidler (State College Spikes), who transferred to the U. of Washington for his senior year. Founded in 2021, the six-team Draft League features a split-season format: the first half showcases draft-eligible amateurs, while the second operates as a pro league for players who have exhausted their amateur eligibility (7/21/2026)egman (Cubs) is heating up. Over six games through July 20, he hit .320 (8-for-25) with 3 HRs, a double, 8 RBIs, 3 walks, and a 1.113 OPS (7/21/2026)
DH Joc Pederson (Rangers) homered for the third straight game in a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays on June 25. Pederson smacked the 402-foot shot on his 11th pitch from RHP Kevin Gausman. Over the three-game stretch, he hit .500 (6 for 12) with 3 HRs, 3 RBIs, a .571 OBP, and 1.821 OPS (6/25/2026)
The freak injury that derailed Zack Gelof‘s 24-game hit streak on June 23 has landed him on the 10-day injured list retroactive to June 24, 2026 due to right hand contusion. Meanwhile, surging Pirates 1B Spencer Horwitz also has landed on the 10-day injured list. According to ESPN, Horwitz “felt a grabbing sensation in his leg while grounding into a double play in the third inning” of an 11-1 win over the Mariners on June 24. Horwitz’s .386 OBP ranks No. 6 in the N.L. and No. 12 in all of MLB (6/25/2026)
A freak injury on June 23 halted Zack Gelof‘s hit streak at 24 games. After flying out in the first inning against rival San Francisco, the Athletics utility man was trying to tag out runner Matt Chapman at second base when Chapman accidentally stepped on his throwing hand. Gelof left the game immediately, thus ending MLB’s longest active streak. The good news is that x-rays were negative, and Gelof did not need stitches. The 24-game streak places Gelof at No. 4 in Jewish major-league history, behind Shawn Green‘s 28-game streak with the Blue Jays in 1999, Gabe Kapler‘s 28-game stretch with the Rangers in 2000, and Ian Kinsler‘s 28-game streak with the Rangers in 2008, according to historian Bob Wechsler (6/24/2026)
When Zack Gelof (Athletics) launched his 24-game hit streak on May 25, he entered the game hitting .228 (26-for-114) with 6 HRs, 17 RBIs, and a .714 OPS. By the time the streak ended, he was hitting .282 (59-for-209) with 11 HRs, 29 RBIs, and an .834 OPS. So far this season, Gelof is hitting 16.7% of his batted balls to the opposite field and striking out at a rate of 24.1%, both career bests (6/24/2026)
stretched his MLB-leading hitting streak to 23 games on June 19 in a dramatic 12-11 walk-off win over the Angels, delivering an RBI single and reaching base three times. Over the 23-game stretch, the 26-year-old has batted .360 (32-for-89) with 5 home runs, 6 doubles, 13 RBIs, a .412 OBP and a 1.008 OPS (6/21/2026)
Athletics utility man Zack Gelof stretched his MLB-leading hitting streak to 23 games on June 19 in a dramatic 12-11 walk-off win over the Angels, delivering an RBI single and reaching base three times. Over the 23-game stretch, the 26-year-old has batted .360 (32-for-89) with 5 home runs, 6 doubles, 13 RBIs, a .412 OBP and a 1.008 OPS (6/21/2026)
Zack Gelof‘s (Athletics) active 23-game hitting streak is the fifth-longest in A’s history since the franchise moved to Oakland and, according to historian Bob Wechsler, ties Gelof for the fourth-longest in Jewish major-league history with Kevin Youkilis (Boston, 2007), behind Shawn Green‘s 28-game streak with the Blue Jays in 1999, Gabe Kapler‘s 28-game stretch with the Rangers in 2000, and Ian Kinsler‘s 25-game stretch with the Rangers in 2008, according to historian Bob Wechsler (6/21/2026)
Utility man Zack Gelof (Athletics) went 3-for-3 with his 10th home run, 2 RBIs, and a stolen base on June 16 to increase his hitting streak to an MLB-best 20 games. Unfortunately, Gelof’s bases-loaded, RBI single came at the expense of 1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates), who made a diving stop of the infield hit but an errant throw to first that allowed all three runners to score. Pittsburgh ultimately prevailed 6-5, however, thanks to a 9th-inning home run. During his streak, Gelof has hit .372 (29-for-78) with 4 HRs, 11 RBIs, 6 doubles, and a 1.012 OPS. The versatile Delaware native has played at least 10 games at three defensive positions this season, including 19 at third base, 15 in center field, and 10 at third (6/17/2026)
Two Jewish players made their 2026 MLB debuts over the past week. 1B Rowdy Tellez (Braves), who had a pinch-hit flyout on June 12, is playing for his sixth major-league team in nine seasons. LHP Max Lazar (Phillies) tossed a scoreless inning of relief in an 8-2 triumph over the Marlins on June 16, yielding one hit while striking out two batters. The two arrivals swelled the number of MLB Jews this season to thirteen (6/17/2026)
LHP Rob Kaminsky (Angels/AAA) is back in affiliated baseball after signing a minor-league contract with the Angels. A first-round draft pick out of high school in 2013, Kaminsky briefly pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2020. He began 2025 with the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate, moved on to the Staten Island FerryHawks of the independent Atlantic League, and later pitched for Team Israel in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (6/16/2026)
A hearty mazel tov to 1B Lyle Miller-Green, who recently signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies. Miller-Green spent 2024 and 2025 in the White Sox organization before joining the Down East Bird Dawgs of the independent Frontier League. As of our June 16, Miller-Green had not been assigned to a minor-league affiliate (6/16/2026)
Newly-listed on JBN: RHP Carlos Lequerica (Tigers/High-A), whose parents are Peruvian, spent two years at a historically Black university and signed with the Tigers as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In 2025, the 25-year-old went 8-0 with a 2.35 ERA for the West Michigan Whitecaps. So far in 2026, he is 2-1 with a 5.46 ERA and 1.315 WHIP. Lequerica recently discussed his WBC experience on a podcast. “It was a surreal experience,” he said. “It was a true honor to represent Israel.” He added: “Baseball’s just another way to bring people together” (6/16/2026)
Newly-listed on JBN: 2B/OF Colby Halter (Athletics/AAA), a 17th-round draft pick in 2023, began 2026 in Double-A, where he hit .253 (23-for-91) with 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and .766 OPS. Since being promoted to Triple-A, the 24-year-old is hitting .250 (15-for-60) with 3 RBIs and a .373 OBP. Halter commemorated his WBC experience with an Instagram photo of himself in a Team Israel uniform, accompanied by the hashtag #matzahballer (6/16/2026)
Newly-listed on JBN: RHP Jordan Geber (Mets/AA), a Mount St. Mary’s and Virginia Tech alum who went undrafted in 2022, reached Triple-A by 2024 and has twice played in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. In 2026, while splitting his appearances between starts and relief outings, the 26-year-old is 2-6 with a 5.30 ERA and 1.79 WHIP. Geber is on the same pitching staff as RJ Gordon. “It was an honor and a blessing to represent my heritage and Israel in the 2026 World Baseball Classic,” Geber wrote on Instagram. “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of something so special!” (6/16/2026)
1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) is enjoying the best season of his four-year MLB career. Through June 2, the Maryland native was hitting .291 (No. 1 among NL first basemen with 200+ plate appearances), with seven HRs (including a “Horwitz howitzer”), 26 RBIs, .390 OBP (No. 6 among all NL hitters), and 1.15 walk-to-strikeout ratio (No. 3 in NL). One other stat to kvell about: Horwitz is one of only two MLB hitters this season with a strikeout rate of less than 12% and a walk rate of more than 13%. The only other player in that elite club is Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, who is hitting just .209 (6/4/2026)
As JBN reader Ethel H. points out, Horwitz is exceptionally accurate when swinging at pitches thrown within the strike zone. The 28-year-old makes contact 94.4% of the time, ranking him fourth in all of Major League Baseball (6/4/2026)
The ascent of Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz—whose OPS rose from .744 in March/April to .966 in May—has not gone unnoticed. Although he spent most of the season in the lower part of Pittsburgh’s batting order, the Pirates elevated him to the leadoff spot on May 24 (6/4/2026)
Of the six Jewish hitters in MLB so far this season, 1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) has the highest wRC+ and highest fWAR. The wRC+ stat measures a hitter’s overall run production, while fWAR is a combined measure of a player’s hitting, baserunning, and fielding performance (6/4/2026)
Another Jewish hitter on a tear: DH Joc Pederson (Rangers) has hit .333 (10-for-30) over his last eight games, with five HRs, 10 RBIs, and .429 OBP. The 13-year veteran’s plate discipline is vastly improved. His 15.7% walk rate is the best since 2015, his first full season in the Majors, and his 20.8% strikeout rate is the second-lowest of his career (6/4/2026)
Talk about streaky. LHP Max Fried (Yankees) began the 2026 season with two scoreless starts, gave up three to five earned runs in each of his next three starts, delivered two more scoreless starts, and then gave up three to five earned runs in the next three outings. Is it the curse of the bobblehead? Those three most recent starts took place after New York gave away Fried bobbleheads on May 2. And it was during his last start—a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Baltimore on May 13—that Fried suffered a bone bruise to his left elbow. Though the Yankees subsequently placed Fried on the 15-day injured list, the good news is that he won’t need Tommy John surgery and reportedly is “responding pretty well” to treatment (6/4/2026)
One thing LHP Max Fried (Yankees) has been consistent about is defense. Since debuting in 2017, the four-time Gold Glove winner has been a beast with the leather. His 200 assists since 2017 rank No. 2 among all MLB pitchers, and his 36 pickoffs rank No. 1 (6/4/2026)
Utility man Zack Gelof (Athletics), who spent the first two weeks of the season lighting up minor-league pitchers, got off to a slow start after Oakland called him up. The 26-year-old Delaware native hit .229 (8-for-35) in April, producing just two extra-base hits, four RBIs, and a .593 OPS, without a single walk. May was much better. Gelof hit .269 (28-for-104) with 5 HRs, 15 RBIs, and a .783 OPS (6/4/2026)
Here is something you might not have noticed about Zack Gelof (Athletics) this season: he’s no longer a pure second baseman. After playing 100% of his first three MLB seasons at second, this season Gelof has made 26 starts at third base, 15 in center field, six at second base, and two in right field. The switch to a utility role began when Oakland acquired Jeff McNeil and installed him at second. Injuries to teammates then opened up opportunities for Gelof in center and at third, where Gelof has displayed solid defense (6/4/2026)
Three Jewish major leaguers were on the injured list as of June 2: RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles), CF Harrison Bader (Giants), and LHP Max Fried (Yankees). Kremer hasn’t pitched since April 18, thanks to a right quad strain. Bader, who hit two grand slams in a single week last month, landed on the injured list May 30 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Fried has been sidelined since mid-May with a bruised left elbow (6/4/2026)
For more than 30 years, Jewish baseball historians have included Nate Berkenstock in their list of Jewish pro baseball players. Roughly 40 years old when he played a single game for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1871, Berkenstock—who was born in 1831 or 1832—is perhaps best known as the earliest-born player in major league history. But an obituary recently discovered by MLB historian John Thorn has cast doubt on his classification as Jewish by identifying him as a “member of the Reformed Church.” Further research by Jewish Baseball News indicates he was more than just a member. An item about Berkenstock in Historical Notes Relating to the Pennsylvania Reformed Church noted he sang in the choir of the First Church of Philadelphia and had been president of its board of corporation for “a quarter of a century” when he died in 1900. In light of this new information, Jewish Baseball News has removed Berkenstock from its all-time roster (6/4/2026)
At least six Jewish minor leaguers were ranked among their franchise’s Top 30 prospects as of 5/5/2026, according to MLB.com:
RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/AAA) hasn’t allowed an earned run since an April 10 blowout that ballooned his ERA. In 6.2 innings over five games, the 26-year-old prospect has yielded one hit and 5 walks while striking out eight. Highlights included his first 2026 save and striking out OF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AAA) on a 78.6-mph sweeper on May 2 in a 2-inning, no-hit outing (5/5/2026)
LHP Colton Gordon (Astros/AAA) tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in an April 29 loss to the Diamondbacks affiliate, his first appearance since Houston optioned him on April 25. The 6’4″ southpaw started a double play to escape a 2nd-inning jam and strukc out the first two batters in the 4th inning before being replaced. In four minor-league starts this season, Gordon is 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts against four walks (5/5/2026)
RHP Charlie Beilenson (Mariners/AA) held opponents scoreless in his first seven appearances of 2026. The third-year pro earned three saves in three chances, recorded a 0.57 WHIP over 12.1 combined innings, and fanned 17 batters while walking just one. Highlights included an April 18 appearance in which he struck out MLB’s #12 and #22 prospects. Beilenson finally gave up a run on May 1, but his ERA remained a slim 0.68 (5/5/2026)
It’s been feast or famine for 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/AA). His 21% walk rate ranks #3 in the Texas League among batters with at least 80 plate appearances, while his 34.6% strikeout rate ranks #13. Gelof has tallied only 12 hits in 64 ABs, but five have been home runs. They include a walkoff dinger with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning on April 18, shots to left field and right-center field on April 24, and a 3-run, first-pitch home run that gave his 1st-place team the lead for good in an April 28 win over the Padres affiliate (5/5/2026)
Speaking of Jake Gelof, he and older brother Zack Gelof (Athletics) both homered on April 24. It was the sixth time the brothers have gone yard on the same date over their pro careers (5/5/2026)
2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) had quite a game on May 2. The sixth-year pro’s two-run home run in the 6th inning put his team up 3-2 on May 2, and his 7th-inning walk drove in LF Zach Levenson to tie the game at five. Mendinger finished the day 2-for-3 with two walks and three RBIs, but the Royals affiliate ultimately prevailed 7-5 (5/5/2026)
After hitting .216 (8-for-37) with just one RBI in his first 10 games of 2026, SS Henry Godbout has raised his average to .263, thanks to a nine-game run in which he hit .308 (12-for-39) with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. That included three three-hit games between April 21 and April 28 (5/5/2026)
OF Sam Biller (Mets/High-A) earned a promotion from Single-A after starting the season with an 11-game hitting streak, good for a .359 batting average (14-for-39), .457 OBP, and 8 RBIs. It may take a bit to adjust to High-A, though. The undrafted lefty is hitless with nine strikeouts in his first four games (5/5/2026)
RHP Levi Sterling (Pirates/Single-A), who earned a $2.5-million signing bonus at age 17 in 2024, is starting to live up to the hype. Unimpressive in his first three starts this season, the 6’5″ Californian shone in a 6-3 win over the Phillies affiliate on April 26, yielding 3 hits and zero walks over 5 innings while striking out a career-high nine batters. A week later, Sterling tossed 6 shutout innings on just 69 pitches in an 8-5 victory over the Tigers affiliate. The 19-year-old gave up 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out two (5/5/2026)
JBN reader and NYC resident Ethel H. did a deep dive into Max Fried’s metrics. Through April 28, her hometown hero leads A.L. pitchers in assists (8), H/9 (4.944), and vertical drop on curveballs (68.2 inches). He ranks second in WHIP (0.803), HR/9 (0.190), and range factor per game (1.57); #3 in WAR (1.9); and #7 in ERA (2.09). Fried currently is posting career bests in ERA, WHIP, H/9, HR/9, BA against, and OBP and OPS against. He also is showing elite movement on his changeup and four-seam fastball. “Fried’s strikeout percentage is at its lowest level,” Ethel noted, “but at the same time he is giving up the fewest hits per nine innings of his career,” Ethel writes (4/29/2026)
Chicago is still waiting for 3B Alex Bregman to ignite. After signing a 5-year, $175-million deal, the Cubs third baseman hit just .188 (9-for-48) through his first dozen games, including only three extra-base hits. The three-time All-Star has since climbed to .256 (31-for-121), but the power is missing. Breggy has just one home run since the opening week (although he missed by a mere inch on April 22). His slugging percentage lags 50 points behind the Cubs average and 100 points below his pre-2026 career total. The frustration may have peaked on April 27, when he struck out with a man on base to end a 9-7 loss to San Diego. “It’s poor mechanics,” Bregman recently told the New York Times. “But I’m going to get it” (4/29/2026)
Oakland called up 2B Zack Gelof on April 10. He forced their hand by torching Triple-A for a .366 average in 41 at-bats, including 4 HRs, 10 RBIs, 13 walks, a .519 OBP, and 1.251 OPS. The big-league transition has been tougher. In Oakland, Gelof is hitting .250 (7-for-28) with one home run, one double, 4 RBIs, one walk, and eight strikeouts. But on April 24, he flashed his potential by robbing Rangers RF Brandon Nimmo of a home run and hitting his first blast of the season in the same game (4/29/2026)
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked 1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) to keep a journal about representing Israel at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. “I’m slightly anxious about the WBC,” he wrote during the tournament. “People hate Jews. I don’t want that to stop me from playing. I do not want to give into fear.” Horwitz followed up after returning to Pittsburgh. “I’m glad I did not give into the fear that pushed some not to come,” he wrote. “The WBC was a great experience. It allowed me to 1. Show love for where I come from and represent my family. 2. Play baseball in a special environment, at the highest level” (4/29/2026)
1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) and DH Joc Pederson (Rangers) belong to an exclusive club: they are two of only 18 players with a pinch-hit HR this year (4/29/2026)
Dean Kremer’s return to the big leagues has been a rollercoaster. The Orioles right-hander struck out nine and walked none in his April 13 debut but surrendered three home runs. He looked sharper against Cleveland, but his progress has stalled. Kremer hit the 15-day injured list on April 20 with a right quad strain (4/29/2026)
C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) is back. Called up on April 22 to replace an injured JT Realmuto, Stubbs looks to capitalize on back-up catcher Rafael Marchan’s .091 slump (4-for-44). In his season debut on April 23, Stubbs drove in a run with a sac fly. He followed that up with a 2-for-4 performance the next day (4/29/2026)
To make roster room for teammate Garrett Stubbs, the Phillies moved LHP Max Lazar from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL. Lazar is still recovering from an oblique strain suffered while playing for Israel during the WBC and is eligible to return in late May (4/29/2026)
Giants CF Harrison Bader hit the injured list on April 15 with a left hamstring strain. It’s a frustrating setback for the Team Israel alum, who was hitting just .115 (6-for-52) with a home run and 3 RBIs after a hot spring. Need a Bader fix? Watch his 19-minute Mic’d Up highlight reel (4/29/2026)
LHP Max Fried (Yankees), who teamed up with RHP Jake Bird to shut out the Giants on Opening Day, recorded another shutout in his second start of the season, a 5-0 win over the Mariners 5-0 on March 31. The ace held Seattle to 3 hits and a walk over 7 innings while striking out six. Fried and Bird didn’t have quite the same magic in the next start. Fried gave up 3 earned runs over 6.2 innings and New York up 4-3 over the Marlins. But Bird, who entered the game with one out and a man on first in the 8th inning, was pulled after giving up a walk, hitting a batter, and yielding a 2-run double. He was hit with both the loss and a blown save in Florida’s 7-6 win. Despite the defeat, Fried’s 1.35 ERA ranks #6 in the A.L. through 4/6/2026, and his WHIP comes in at #7 (4/8/2026)
Garrett Stubbs lost his bid for the final catcher spot on Philadelphia’s roster last month, but so far the Team Israel alum has had the more interesting season, even though each has appeared in only two games. Marchan is 1-for-8 with a 2-run HR and no walks. By comparison, Stubbs—one of four catchers on Philadelphia’s Triple-A roster—is 5-for-7 through 4/6/2026, with 2 HRs and 2 doubles, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, and a stolen base. That amounts to a .714 batting average, .778 OBP, and 2.635 OPS. Moreover, Stubbs played one of his two games at 3B, in line with Phillies manager Rob Thomson’s goal of turning the 32-year-old into a “super-utility guy that can play anywhere in the outfield, anywhere in the infield, maybe not first base, but also catch.” Added Thomson, “he’s got a lot of value (4/8/2026)
LHP Jared Shuster (Cardinals), who was released by the White Sox in December and hit hard in his lone Triple-A outing this season, got a surprise call-up from the Cardinals on 4/5/2026. The middle reliever benefited from the poor performance of St. Louis RHP Chris Roycroft, who gave up 5 earned runs on 8 hits and 5 walks over a combined 3.2 MLB innings this season before being optioned to Triple-A. If he gets into a game, Shuster will be the seventh Jewish player in the Majors this season (4/8/2026)
Atlanta signed free agent Rowdy Tellez to a minor-league contract on 5/23/2026 and assigned him to the club’s Triple-A team. Tellez, who has played for five franchises over his 8-year MLB career, was released midyear by the Mariners in 2025, got picked up the Rangers, and then declared free agency in November. He hit .228 (66-for-289) last season, with 17 HRs, 49 RBIs, and a .276 OBP and .719 OPS. Tellez hitting .214 (6-for-28) for the Gwinnett Braves through 4/6/2026, with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs (4/8/2026)
The Nationals, who signed 1B Matt Mervis to a minor-league contract during the offseason, released him on 3/31/2026 after the well-traveled veteran failed to make the Opening Day roster and played just one game with Washington’s Triple-A team. Last month, Mervis played 1B and DH for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, hitting .273 (3-for-11) with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs (4/8/2026)
Jewish batters in the MLB—all four of them—are off to a slow start. The quartet is averaging hitting a combined .153 (19-for-124) through 4/6/2026, with just 12 RBIs, a .239 OBP, and anemic .514 OPS. 1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) leads the group with a .231 average, LF Joc Pederson (Rangers) takes the bottom rung at .100, and CF Harrison Bader (Giants) has struck out 13 times in 38 ABs (4/8/2026)
It’s been a yo-yo Spring for RHP Robert Stock. Released by the Red Sox in August, he signed a minor-league deal with New York in November and later got an invite to join the Mets for Spring Training. The 36-year-old veteran wowed the brass in his debut, a 5-0 win over the Astros on February 26, striking out 6 batters over 3 innings of relief, yielding only one baserunner, tossing strikes on 26 of 39 pitches, and earning a hold. A week later, Stock had similar success in a 1-0 exhibition victory over the Marlins, this time wearing an “Israel” jersey. Unfortunately, the March 3 outing proved costly; Stock reported shoulder discomfort after the game and ultimately chose to get thoracic outlet surgery, leading him to his current spot on the injured list. But two days after the Marlin defeat, Stock got good news: The Athletic, a website owned by the New York Times, featured Stock and Stockyard Baseball, the pitch-modeling app he created (4/8/2026)
C Max Kaufer, a senior transfer at Wichita State (AAC #7), ranks among the best D-1 players through 4/6/2026, with a .440 average (22-for-50) through 4/7/2026, an incredible 11 HRs in just 50 ABs, and 27 RBIs. He also leads all Jews with a .567 OBP and 1.747 OPS. Kaufer previously played at Texas A&M and the University of South Carolina, both of which are in the #1-ranked SEC (4/8/2026)
Georgia Tech (ACC #2) 3B Ryan Zuckerman, a junior, is hitting .327 (36-for-110) through 4/7/2026, with 11 HRs (tied for #1 on team), 39 RBIs (#1/tied), OBP of .460, and 1.178 OPS. Zuckerman previously played at the University of Pittsburgh, a fellow ACC school (4/8/2026)
St. John’s University (Big East #16) C Adam Agresti, a junior, is enjoying his best season yet. Agresti is hitting .315 (35-for-111) through 4/7/2026, with 12 HRs (#1 on team and among all Jewish players), 32 RBIs (#2 on team), OBP of .457 OBP (#1), and 1.142 OPS (#1). His brother, C/LF Jason Agresti, plays for the New York Boulders of the independent Frontier League (4/8/2026)
University of Nebraska (Big 10 #4) RHP Cooper Katskee, a redshirt junior who previously played for Indiana University (Big 10 #4) and Miami of Ohio (MAC #20), is a wicked 5-0 with a 2.79 ERA through 4/7/2026, 0.83 WHIP (tied for #10 among all D-1 pitchers), and 45 strikeouts against 8 walks. Katskee was the 2025 MAC Pitcher of the Year (4/8/2026)
Tulane University (AAC #7) LHP Jake Toporek, a graduate student who spent his first three season in a much lower-ranked conference (NEC #25), has risen to the challenge. The 23-year-old reliever is 1-2 with a 2.67 ERA (#1 on team) through 4/7/2026, 3.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio (#1), 1.15 WHIP (#2), and is averaging 10 strikeouts per 9 innings (4/8/2026)
University of Maryland (Big Ten #4) LHP Austin Weiss, a freshman, made his college debut on March 22, and it was a doozy. had pitched only one inning, but it was a doozy. The first batter he faced was SS Roch Cholowsky — the projected #1 pick in the 2026 draft, playing for the nation’s #1-ranked college team. What did Weiss do? Struck him out on a 2-2 count. Weiss ended up tossing a scoreless inning, yielding no hits and two walks while striking out two. Alas, UCLA trounced Maryland 14-4 (4/8/2026)
Perhaps the best performance at the plate so far was in Alex Bregman’s second game as a Cub. The third baseman launched two solo HRs—the first Jewish round-trippers of 2026, in fact—in a 6-3 loss to the Nationals at Wrigley Field on 3/29/2026. The balls landed in the center field and right-center bleachers, a surprising outcome for a pull hitter. Two days later, the Gold Gloversnared an 111.6-mph liner rocketed by Mike Trout (4/8/2026)
LHP Max Fried (Yankees) overcame a shaky first inning to lead New York to a 7-0 win over the Giants. The ace held San Francisco to just 2 hits and a walk over 6.1 shutout innings and struck out four. His victims included CF Harrison Bader, who struck out on three pitches to start the day and ended it 0-for-3 with 2 whiffs. RHP Jake Bird faced two Giants batters in the seventh inning and retired both, beginning with a swinging strikeout that ended on a 95.2-mph sinker (3/26/2026)
Only six Jewish players made it onto Opening Day rosters, the fewest in memory. Three of the six were shoo-ins: LHP Max Fried (Yankees), CF Harrison Bader (Giants), and 3B Alex Bregman (Cubs). Bregman, the newly-minted Chicagoan, hit .524 (11-for-21) this Spring (#2 in the Majors), with eight extra-base hits (4 HRs and 4 doubles), 5 RBIs, a .583 OBP (#4) and an MLB-best 1.869 OPS (3/26/2026)
The three remaining players were slightly less obvious. RHP Jake Bird (Yankees), who was traded to New York in late July, appeared in only 3 games as a Yankee in 2025 before being sent to the minors, going 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA over 2 combined innings. DH Joc Pederson (Rangers) hit just .181 (48-for-265) with 9 HRs and a .613 OPS in 2025 and only .175 (7-for-40) with 15 strikeouts during 2026 Spring Training. 1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) hit just .139 (5-for-36) with one HR and 3 RBIs in 2026 Spring Training, but then again, his career Spring Training batting average is just .178, so he’s historically a slow starter (3/26/2026)
The absence of RHP Dean Kremer (Orioles) from Baltimore’s Opening Day rostercame as a surprise. The veteran starter led Baltimore with 11 wins in 2025, tossed 4.1 scoreless innings for Israel in the 2026 WBC, and finished Spring Training with a strong start against the Yankees in which he outdueled New York ace Max Fried, yielding one earned run over 4.1 innings and striking out eight batters. Had the Orioles’ front office stayed with its plan to go with a six-man starting rotation rather than pivoting to five, Kremer would have made the roster (3/26/2026)
RHP Max Lazar (Phillies) and RHP Robert Stock (Mets) suffered injuries during Spring Training that cost them a chance to appear on MLB rosters on Opening Day. Three other players who logged MLB time in 2025 were sent to Triple-A during Spring Training. LHP Colton Gordon (Astros) and 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) were optioned, while C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) was designated for assignment, thus exposing him to a trade or waivers. Philadelphia had tried but failed to trade Stubbs by Opening Day (3/26/2026)
On the bright side, MLB.com projects that three Jewish minor-leaguers—RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/AAA), RHP Eric Reyzelman (Yankees/AAA), and OF RJ Schreck (Blue Jays/AAA) will make their MLB debuts in 2026. Fingers crossed (3/26/2026)
Backed by an error-free performance, Israel defeated the Netherlands 6-2 in World Baseball Classic action on March 10. Though the win was sweet—featuring a dramatic five-run 6th inning that erased a 2-0 deficit—both teams had already been mathematically eliminated from advancing to the next round. Israel finished the 2026 tournament with a 2-2 record, good for third place among five teams in Pool D. See our article for details!
After losing 11-3 to Venezuela in Game 1 of the 2026 WBC on March 7, Israel rebounded with a 5-0 win over Nicaragua on March 9. RHP Dean Kremer held Venezuela to two hits and a walk over 4.1 innings while striking out four batters, and the four pitchers who relieved him tossed a combined 4.2 innings of no-hit ball. Israel was led at the plate by 2B/LF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA), who went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI; SS Cole Carrigg (Rockies/AA), who went 2-for-4 with 2 stolen bases and an RBI; LF Zach Levenson (Cardinals/AA), who went 1-for-3 with a walk and RBI; and CF Harrison Bader (Giants), who stroked an RBI single (3/9/2026)
Team Israel, led by starter RHP Robert Stock, held the Marlins to 4 hits in a 1-0 exhibition win on March 3. Stock gave up 2 hits and a walk over 3 innings while striking out 3, and he was followed by six relievers—including minor-league free agent Daniel Federman, who earned a save by striking out the side in the 9th inning. Israel managed only three hits, but one was an RBI triple by C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) (3/5/2026)
Baseball America currently ranks Venezuela the #4 best team in the WBC, and Israel #13. The publication offered this evaluation of Israel’s chances in the tournament: “Pool D is brutally tough, and it’s hard to see Israel matching up with the D.R. or Venezuela. The Netherlands should be a tough game, as well, but a win against Nicaragua would likely ensure an automatic bid for 2029’s WBC. The combination of Harrison Bader, infielders Spencer Horwitz and Matt Mervis and catchers Garrett and CJ Stubbs gives this team some thump and veteran experience” (3/5/2026)
Since Israel unveiled its 2026 WBC roster on February 7, three players have departed the team. OF Troy Johnston (Rockies/AAA) decided to stay at Spring Training. RHP Eli Morgan (Royals/AAA) is sidelined by a chronic injury. RHP Josh Blum suffered an elbow injury during his Spring debut on February 24. Replacing them on the roster are 2B Colby Halter (Athletics/AAA), LHP Jake Fishman (Toros de Tijuana/Mexico), and RHP Zack Leban (Sultanes de Monterrey/Mexico) (3/5/2026)
In a recent interview with former New York Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz, 1B Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) said he wanted to play for Israel in the 2026 WBC because of his “amazing” experience at the 2023 tournament. Meanwhile, CF Harrison Bader (Giants) recently said he is “extremely excited” to play for Israel after two prior opportunities fell through (3/5/2026)
2B/3B Michael Wielansky, a former Astros and Giants prospect who was released in 2024 and played indy ball later that year, is thriving in Mexico. As a Mexican summer league rookie in 2025, the 6’2″ St. Louis native—who stood just 4’9″ at his bar mitzvah—hit .365 (#15 in the league) for Charros de Jalisco, with 3 HRs, 47 RBIs, 27 stolen bases (#6), and a .921 OPS. A similarly strong performance in the Mexican winter league launched Jalisco into the 2026 Caribbean Series, where the team represented Mexico against champions from the Dominican, Venezuelan, Panamanian, and Puerto Rican winter leagues. Wielansky was named Series MVP after delivering one of the greatest individual performances in Series history. The 28-year-old hit a Series-best .538, tied an all-time record with 14 hits, tallied 6 RBIs (#2/tie), and scored the extra-inning run that gave Jalisco its first Caribbean Series championship (3/5/2026)
RHP Robert Stock, the indefatigable journeyman who signed with the Mets this season after playing for the Red Sox in 2025, delivered the Spring’s best pitching performance so far in a February 26 shutout over the Astros. Stock turned in 3 innings of one-hit relief and fanned 6 batters to earn a hold. Making the win even sweeter was teammate Ben Simon’s one-inning appearance later in the game. The Double-A righty gave up no hits while striking out two and walking two (3/5/2026)
LHP Max Fried (Yankees) made his Spring debut in an 11-1 exhibition win over Panama on March 3. The ace southpaw threw three scoreless innings on one hit, three walks, and a strikeout. Fried previously declined an invitation to pitch for Team USA in the 2026 WBC (3/5/2026)
Two other Jewish players in the Yankees’ system have taken the mound this spring. RHP Jake Bird (AAA) performed admirably in three shutout innings acro (3/5/2026)ss three appearances, striking out five batters while allowing 2 hits and no walks and earning a hold. RHP Harrison Cohen (Yankees/AAA) threw 2 shutout innings across 2 games
CF Harrison Bader is also making a strong first impression. The newly minted Giant—who will play for Israel in the WBC—is hitting .417 (5-for-12) with a home run, 2 doubles, 6 RBIs, a walk, and a strikeout (3/5/2026)
3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/High-A) is making the most of his limited on-field time. In five plate appearances through March 1, the younger brother of 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) drew a pinch-hit, bases-load walk on February 25 and stroked a 431-foot solo HR on February 28. Zack may play later this spring if his surgically repaired shoulder holds up (3/5/2026)
1B Matt Mervis (Nationals/AAA) is 2-for-7 with a double, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and a stolen base across three appearances (3/5/2026)
C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) is hitting .273 (3-for-11) with a double, triple, walk, and 2 RBIs. Younger brother and fellow catcher CJ Stubbs (Blue Jays/AAA) is 2-for-6 across three appearances (3/5/2026)
Free agent Rowdy Tellez has not signed a new contract since leaving the Rangers after the 2025 season, but he will compete for Team Mexico in the 2026 WBC. In a 6-3 exhibition win over the Diamondbacks on March 3, Tellez went 2-for-4 with a solo HR and RBI single (3/5/2026)
RHP Brian Zeldin signed a free-agent contract with the Twins on February 21. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2025, Zeldin pitched for the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League, an MLB Professional Partner League. He went 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 15 relief appearances while striking out 25 batters over 20.2 innings (3/5/2026)
OF Sam Biller, who played for three Division 1 colleges before signing a free-agent deal with the Mets in August 2025, was released on February 3. The California native played in six games for New York’s Single-A team in 2025, hitting .235 (4-for-17) with one RBI, a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases, and a .381 OBP (3/5/2026)
OF Caden Shapiro, a Princeton University alum who signed a free-agent deal with the Pirates in August 2025, retired in late 2025. Shapiro was assigned to Pittsburgh’s rookie-league team but never played. His father, Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro, played football at Princeton (3/5/2026)
Also retiring in late 2025 was C Bennett Markison, a Northwestern University alum who signed a free-agent deal with the Phillies in July 2025 but never got on the field (3/5/2026)
LF Sam Grunberg (Jacksonville University), younger brother of former Loyola Marymount outfielder Ben Grunberg, has joined JBN’s D-1 college roster. After graduating from high school in 2022 as the 11th-ranked first baseman in California, Grunberg played two years of junior-college ball before transferring to Lindenwood University (D-1) in 2025. He is now a senior at Jacksonville (3/5/2026)
OF Dylan Drumke (Eastern Illinois University) missed the 2025 season with a severe back injury that required titanium screws. Now a graduate student, he is back for one last season. In 2024, Drumke hit .292 (57-for-195) with 15 HRs and 51 RBIs in just 195 ABs (3/5/2026)
If a Jewish ballplayer plays at a D-1 college, Jewish Baseball News lists him in its college roster regardless of performance. Not so for our high-school list, which includes only top prospects. OF Ira Rootman, the newest player to join that list, fits the bill. A junior at Harvard-Westlake—a North Hollywood high school that has produced Jewish major leaguers Max Fried and Josh Satin, as well as current minor-leaguer RJ Schreck—Rootman is ranked the #1 outfielder and #6 player overall in California’s High School Class of 2027, according to Prep Baseball Report. He also is ranked nationally: #6 among all outfielders and the #44 player overall (3/5/2026)
