By Scott Barancik, Editor
Jewish Baseball News is privileged to add three minor-league ballplayers to its roster this week. We are also thrilled to welcome back two athletes to affiliated baseball after stints in independent ball.
(Note: Statistics cited below are current through games played June 16, 2026)
Mazel Tov!
Please join us in formally welcoming the following gentlemen to Jewish Baseball News. All three played for Team Israel in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
They’re Back!
- 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)
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