By Ron Kaplan, contributor Mazel of the day: Ryan Braun started the scoring for the Milwaukee Brewers (8-6) against the host Chicago Cubs with a two-run homer in the first inning. He drove in another run in the top of the eighth on a double, then came around to score from third when his stolen…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights from the week of April 10-16, 2017: Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week CF Braden Bishop (Mariners/High-A), Seattle’s No. 16 prospect, was on fire last week. A third-round pick in the 2015 draft, he hit .571 (12-for-21) with 2 doubles, 6 RBIs, and 6 walks. Jewish Baseball…
By Ron Kaplan, contributor Mazel of the Weekend goes to Kevin Pillar. The Toronto Blue Jays are still struggling — they have the worst record ion the Majors at 2-10 — but Pillar, now batting in the leadoff spot, looked good this weekend (Friday thru Sunday), going 5-for-13 with a double and his first home…
By Ron Kaplan, contributor Mazel of the Day: Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the third inning to help the Milwaukee Brewers (5-5) to a 5-1 win over the host Cincinnati Reds. It’s the third home run of the season for Braun and the 288th of his career. Scott Feldman did not appear in…
By Ron Kaplan, contributor Ian Kinsler was 0-for-3 with a walk as the Detroit Tigers (6-2) beat the visiting Minnesota Twins, 5-3. But Kinsler did make a nice grab of this line drive. Prior to the game, he received his Gold Glove Award. Mazel of the day goes to Craig Breslow, who pitched a perfect…
2017 games Games played September 29-October 1, 2017 Games played September 28, 2017 Games played September 27, 2017 Games played September 26, 2017 Games played September 25, 2017 Games played September 22-24, 2017 Games played September 20-21, 2017 — no summaries (Rosh Hashanah) Games played September 19, 2017 Games played September 18, 2017 Games played…
By Ron Kaplan, contributor A lot of MOT-on-MOT action last night. Alex Bregman singled twice in five at-bats, striking out the other three times. He drove in the sixth run of the game for the Houston Astros (5-2), who beat the host Seattle Mariners, 7-3. Danny Valencia was 1-for-4 for Seattle with two strikeouts. Ryan…
By Ron Kaplan, contributor Mazel of the Day: Ian Kinsler hit his second home run of the young season to tie the Detroit Tigers’ game against the visiting Boston Red Sox at 1-1. The blow came in the six inning of the Tigers’ 2-1 victory and was his only hit in three official at-bats; he…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights from April 3-9, the opening week of the 2017 season. Jewish Baseball News Hitter of the Week 3B Mitchell Kranson (Twins/A), a 2016 draftee, started the season strong, going 4-for-9 (.444) with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, a walk, and only one strikeout. Jewish Baseball News Pitcher of the Week P Dean…
By Ron Kaplan, contributor Joc Pederson struck out as a pinch hitter last night but stayed on to single twice and drive in a run as the LA Dodgers (4-3) beat the Colorado Rockies, 10-6. Mazel of the weekend: Scott Feldman pitched six shutout innings on Sunday for the Cincinnati Reds (4-2) in an 8-0…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Games played April 8 Joc Pederson was 0-for-1 with a walk before being lifted for a pinch hitter last night. His Dodgers (3-3) lost to the Colorado Rockies, 4-2, with L.A. starter Clayton Kershaw yielding back-to-back HRs for the first time in his career. Ian Kinsler was 1-for-4 with an RBI single as the Detroit…
By Ron Kaplan, contributor Joc Pederson left a total of five men on base for the LA Dodgers last night. He was 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and two strikeouts. The Dodgers (3-1) prevailed without his services, however, beating the visiting San Diego Padres, 10-2. Ian Kinsler was 0-for-2 with a walk as…
By Scott Barancik, editor With Team Israel’s surprising run at the World Baseball Championship behind us, Jewish Baseball News turns to that beloved annual rite: Spring Training. A total of 19 Jewish players were invited to MLB Spring Training camps this year, either as part of their teams’ active roster, 40-man roster, or non-roster invitee…
By Scott Barancik, editor You had to rise at 4:30pm ET today to watch underdog Team Israel play Korea live in the 2017 World Baseball Classic opener, but seeing Israel triumph 2-1 in 10 innings was worth missing some sleep. There were a few ulcer-inducing moments. Israel — which knocked out 8 hits and drew…
By Scott Barancik, editor When Team Israel announced its 28-man roster for the World Baseball Classic a couple weeks ago, Craig Breslow was on the list. The veteran Major League hurler would anchor Israel’s bullpen during the March tournament in South Korea, equipped with a nearly side-armed delivery he honed during the off-season. But now that he’s legitimately fighting…
By Ron Kaplan, correspondent “Slide, Kelly, Slide!” was usually heard in association with the great 19th-century player King Kelly, who played for several Major League teams and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. But fans of the Israeli team that will be participating for the first time in the upcoming World Baseball Classic…
By Jonathan Mayo, special to Jewish Baseball News I never thought the two sides of my life would ever come together. Baseball and Israel. I mean, for most of my life, that would be like peanut butter and tomato sauce. Jews and baseball, now that’s long been a thing. That “Great Jews in Sports” pamphlet they joke about…
By Scott Barancik, editor At 6:00pm ET today, Israel released its final, 28-man roster for the World Baseball Classic in South Korea this March. The list includes a number of players who have never before represented Israel, and a handful who did so both in the 2013 and 2016 WBC qualifiers. The players are: Dylan…
By Scott Barancik, Editor The latest athlete to join the ranks of Jewish ballplayers is a 6-foot-4-inch first baseman with prodigious power and a promising future with the Toronto Blue Jays. California native Rowdy Tellez, 21, turned down a roster spot at USC in 2013 when the Blue Jays offered him an $850,000 signing bonus out…
By Scott Barancik, editor The roster of players set to represent Israel in the World Baseball Classic in South Korea this March is taking shape. Team Israel general manager Peter Kurz, whose squad of former Major League and current minor-league athletes guided Israel to a qualifying-round win in September, said Tuesday that 15 ballplayers had already committed to…
