Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Here are highlights from minor-league games played on Saturday, April 6: Toronto Blue Jays prospect Kevin Pillar, an outfielder with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA), went 4-for-5 with 2 stolen bases. Pillar also tossed out a runner at third base (box score)….
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News With the regular season now underway, we’re taking a quick look back at how Jewish players performed in spring training. The sheer number who played was impressive: a total of at least 24 Jews — 18 position players and six pitchers —…
Going shopping? Use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Nate Freiman has made the opening-day roster of the Oakland A’s. The 26-year-old slugger told the San Francisco Chronicle he was “shaking” when A’s manager Bob Melvin let him know during batting practice. He is expected to platoon at first base along with 7-year MLB veteran Brandon…
Going shopping? Use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News A flurry of roster moves is taking place as Spring Training player evaluations near an end. The Oakland A’s picked up Nate Freiman on Saturday (3/23/2013) after the Houston Astros put him on waivers. The 26-year-old first baseman, who dominated opposing pitchers during Team…
Going shopping? Use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Kevin Pillar is the best Jewish player you’ve never heard of. In college he set an NCAA Division II record with a 54-game hitting streak. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011, he led his rookie league with a .347 batting average…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Adam Greenberg made the most of his appearance in Wednesday’s (3/6/2013) exhibition game between the Baltimore Orioles and Spain. Inserted in center field in the 6th inning, the 32-year-old walked on four pitches, scored a run, and stroked an RBI single on…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Michael Schwimer made his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday (2/26/2013), just three days after being traded by the Philadelphia Phillies. He made a statement, too. Brought on in the 5th inning of Tuesday’s Spring Training game against the…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News When Ryan Sadowski bid the U.S. adieu in early 2010 to spend the first of three seasons with the Lotte Giants in Korea, the likelihood of getting another chance to play in the MLB appeared as slim as the Miami native’s 6-foot-4, 195-pound…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Kevin Moscatel has covered a lot of ground for a 21-year-old. Born and raised in Venezuela, the 6’1″ catcher was just 16 years old when the St. Louis Cardinals signed him, and 17 when he debuted with the franchise’s rookie-league team. Three seasons…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Zev Ben Avigdor/Jewish Baseball News We at Jewish Baseball News didn’t know about 22-year-old catcher Richard Stock until recently, when the Cleveland Indians prospect proclaimed his ancient heritage via the most modern of ways: Twitter. “Best part of being Jewish is macaroons,” he Tweeted. Raised with…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Injury-prone Boston Red Sox outfielder Ryan Kalish has hurt his right (non-throwing) shoulder and will undergo surgery, forcing him to miss Spring Training and probably some of the 2013 regular season. The news comes as a blow to Red Sox fans who hoped the…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link —————————————————————————————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Jewish Baseball News, the website that brings you “News and stats on Jews with bats,” has selected the top Jewish minor-leaguers of the 2012 season. Here are the award winners: Rookie of the year Jack Marder, 2B/C/LF, High Desert Mavericks (Seattle Mariners)…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Adam Greenberg, the retired ballplayer who rode a wave of fan appreciation to an unlikely at-bat with the Florida Marlins this October, isn’t finished with his comeback. The 31-year-old outfielder signed a minor-league contract this week with the Baltimore Orioles. It is…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News The St. Louis Cardinals have traded MLB utility man Skip Schumaker to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for 23-year-old prospect Jake Lemmerman. Depending how he performs in spring training, Lemmerman will start at shortstop for the club’s Double-A team or play a utility…
Going Hanukkah shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link. —————————————————————————————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Free agent Kevin Youkilis, who struck fear and loathing in the hearts of New Yorkers during an All-Star career with the Boston Red Sox, is joining the Yankees. Sports Illustrated and other news outlets reported this evening (12/11/2012) that the 33-year-old infielder…
Going Hanukkah shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link. —————————————————————————————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News It’s been a busy off-season so far for Jewish ballplayers. The Boston Red Sox recently dealt 3B Danny Valencia to the Baltimore Orioles for cash. Though the 28-year-old Valencia had a tough 2012 season with the Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and…
By Zev Ben Avigdor/Jewish Baseball News Jeff Urlaub was in no rush to turn pro. The lanky pitcher from Scottsdale, Ariz., turned down draft offers in 2005 (right out of high school) and 2008 before finally accepting a contract in 2010 with the Oakland A’s. Since then, the 25-year-old reliever has been a model of…
Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link. —————————————————————————————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News If it seemed like Jewish ballplayers were smacking a lot of home runs this season, it wasn’t your imagination. Several records were broken or matched in 2012. Jewish major leaguers (excluding pitchers) hit a combined 116 HRs, topping the prior record of…
By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Team Israel faces Spain this afternoon in the finals of the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in Jupiter, Fla. The winner will go on to play in the 16-team main WBC tournament in March 2013. Here is Team Israel’s batting order for today’s game: Ben Guez (CF) Joc Pederson (RF) Nate…
By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Team Israel was just introduced and the Israel anthem played here at Game 2 of the World Baseball Classic qualifiers in Jupiter, Fla. Israel, the ‘visiting team,’ faces ‘home’ team Spain. Here is the lineup and batting order for Team Israel: Ben Guez (CF) Joc Pederson (RF) Nate Freiman (1B)…
