Brett Lorin heads to Ariz., may be on fast track to Show

Help Jewish Baseball News grow. Use our Amazon link for your holiday shopping. JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Is minor-league pitcher Brett Lorin a hidden gem? The Arizona Diamondbacks seem to think so. As part of Major League Baseball’s “Rule 5” draft today, the D’Backs plucked the 24-year-old hurler out of relative obscurity from the Pittsburgh…

Ryan Braun is named MVP, first Jewish winner in 48 years

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Milwaukee Brewers RF Ryan Braun was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player today, earning 20 of 32 first-place votes from the country’s top baseball writers. The prestigious award comes just 4 years after the southern California native was named N.L. Rookie of the Year, and 6 years after the Brewers…

Ian Kinsler finishes 11th in A.L. MVP vote

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Texas Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler finished 11th in voting for the 2011 American League MVP, Major League Baseball said Monday. The two-time All-Star came in just behind Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria and received one 4th-place vote, according to MLB.com. Detroit Tigers P Justin Verlander won the award with 13…

Jewish dream team joins Israel’s WBC bid

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Ex-major leaguers Shawn Green, Brad Ausmus, and Gabe Kapler are joining the effort to make Team Israel a contender at the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Peter Kurz, secretary general of the Israel Association of Baseball, told the Associated Press that one of the three Jewish players is likely to become the…

Playoffs recap: How they did

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS –Now that the 2011 season is officially over, let’s review how Jewish players did during the playoffs: Ian Kinsler (2B), Texas Rangers. Playing in the postseason for the 2nd time in his 6-year career, Kinsler performed his leadoff-man magic, finishing 1st among A.L. players in walks (14), 3rd in hits (20/tie), and…

Brewers ride Braun’s blasts to Game 1 victory

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS —Ryan Braun continued his miraculous post-season play Sunday, smashing a 463-foot HR and hitting a two-run double to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of the N.L. Championship Series. The Brewers were down 1-0 in the first inning when Braun hit…

Lavarnway powers Red Sox win with first two MLB home runs

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Late season call-up Ryan Lavarnway won the hearts of Boston Red Sox fans Tuesday night with a two-HR performance that secured an 8-7 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Lavarnway, a catcher recently named 2011 Minor-League MVP by Jewish Baseball News, drove in half of the Red Sox’s runs in the crucial…

Ryan Braun smacks 2 HRs, is third Jewish player to join exclusive 30/30 club

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Milwaukee Brewers LF Ryan Braun clubbed 2 HRs in Friday night’s 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds — and launched himself into the record books. Braun’s HRs (see video) were his 29th and 30th of the season. Combined with his 31 stolen bases, Braun now joins one of the most exclusive…

Jewish Baseball News names top minor-leaguers of 2011

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — More than 50 Jewish athletes played minor-league baseball in 2011, and Jewish Baseball News has identified the very best. Here is our 2011 list of the top Jewish minor-leaguers: Lenny Linsky, P Winner: Best rookie pitcher Bowling Green Hot Rods (A) Hudson Valley Renegages (A-short season) Franchise: Tampa Bay Rays  A…

Birthright Israel to host free trip for Jewish baseball, softball players

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Birthright Israel, the charity that provides free group tours of the Holy Land to Jews ages 18 to 26, has scheduled a unique trip for just baseball and softball players and their fans. Ballplayers who participate in the inter-semester trip will not only get to experience Israel but compete against the…

Kinsler hits 2 more HRs, has 7 in past 7 games

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Texas Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler continued his recent HR tear, belting two more Wednesday in a 10-inning, 5-4 heartbreaker to the Tampa Bay Rays. Kinsler’s 2nd dinger of the night sent the game into extra innings. Wednesday’s barrage left him with 28 HRs, tied for 5th highest in the American League…

Newest Jewish MLB’er Josh Satin singles in first at-bat

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — New York Mets infielder Josh Satin singled in his first MLB at-bat Sunday as the Mets dispatched the Washington Nationals 6-3 in D.C. Satin, 26, led off the 3rd inning by smacking a 2-2, 63-mph curveball from Nationals P Livan Hernandez into left field (see video). He later scored on a…

New York Mets call up prospect Josh Satin

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The New York Mets made their first two September call-ups today (9/1/2011), and one of the lucky players is Jewish. Josh Satin, a 26-year-old infielder in his 4th season with the Mets franchise, began the year with the Binghamton Mets (AA) before being promoted to the Buffalo Bisons (AAA) in July….

It’s good to be Ryan Braun: on cover of Sports Illustrated, closing in on 30/30 club

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — It’s good to be Ryan Braun. This week’s issue of Sports Illustrated features the 27-year-old outfielder on its cover, along with Milwaukee Brewers teammates Prince Fielder and Nyjer Morgan. The headline refers to Braun and Fielder as “two wallbanging MVP candidates.” (Braun was 3 years old the last time SI devoted…

Except for one pitch, Schwimer’s MLB debut is solid

JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Philadelphia Phillies P Michael Schwimer should be proud. The 6’8″ reliever pitched admirably in his MLB debut Sunday, a three-inning stint in relief of two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay in which he retired 9 of 11 batters faced, yielding just 2 hits, walking none, and striking out 4, including…