By Scott Barancik, Editor
Momentum is building for MLB Jews. Although only six Jewish players made it onto Opening Day rosters last month, the fewest in memory, four reinforcements have arrived: pitchers Colton Gordon (Astros), Dean Kremer (Orioles), and Jared Shuster (Cardinals), and catcher Garrett Stubbs (Phillies).
Who will be the next call-up?
Don’t forget to check the Jewish Box Score for in-game stats, updated every 10 minutes.
And now…let’s play ball!
Max Marvelous on Mound
Max Fried continues to dominate. On April 27, the Yankees southpaw stifled Texas in a 4-2 win, allowing just four hits and two walks over six innings, striking out five, and picking off a baserunner. Not even a 415-foot pinch-hit blast by Rangers DH Joc Pederson off New York reliever Camilo Doval could spoil Fried’s night. Five days earlier, Fried dismantled the Red Sox 4-1 on exactly 100 pitches, yielding three hits and two walks while striking out nine. He escaped a second-inning jam by striking out three consecutive batters swinging. The three-time All-Star is the only MLB pitcher this year with four scoreless starts of 6+ innings (4/29/2026)
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)
Bregman’s Bat Still Broken
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)
Stubbs Squats in Philly
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)
Baseball Books Debut
Dr. Robert L. Hirsch has released Playing Ball While Jewish: Silence and Prejudice in Major League Baseball. Meanwhile, Israel Association of Baseball CEO Peter Kurz recently debuted Where Traditions Meet: The Personal Inside Story of the Israel Baseball Quest for Olympic Gold (4/29/2026)
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