JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — RF Gabe Kapler has signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB.com reports. Kapler, a 35-year-old free agent, hit .210 last year with the Tampa Bay Rays, with 2 HRs, 4 doubles and 14 RBIs in 124 at-bats. His contract includes an invitation to the Dodgers’ spring training camp,…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — So far, at least four Jewish minor-leaguers have been invited to attend Major League spring training camps in 2011. According to MLB team web sites, four ballplayers have been identified as “non-roster invitees” — that is, they have been invited to attend spring training even though they are not on their…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Chicago Cubs will send CF Sam Fuld to the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a multi-player trade centered around Rays SP Matt Garza, ESPN.com reported today (1/7/2011). The trade may signal renewed life for Fuld, a 29-year-old defensive specialist who has spent most of his professional career in the…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Florida International University star Garrett Wittels, whose 56-game hitting streak earlier this year electrified the college baseball world, was one of five men arrested in the Bahamas on Dec. 20 and charged with raping two 17-year-old girls. The men, friends from the Miami area, allegedly met the girls at the Atlantis…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — When the Milwaukee Brewers signed undrafted free agent Steve Braun to a minor-league contract in 2008, older brother Ryan Braun‘s fingerprints were all over the deal. Steve Braun had hit just .276 that year at the University of Maryland and was not among the 1,500 amateurs selected in the annual MLB…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Justin Milo is a rare commodity: a 5-foot-8 Jew playing ball on a New York Yankees farm team. Now he’s giving it up for something even more unlikely: a professional hockey career. Despite playing for the “A” Charleston RiverDogs in 2010, Milo recently signed a contract to play hockey for the…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Arizona Fall League’s 30-game regular season came to an end Thursday (11/17/2008). So how did its six Jewish players do? Hitters 2B Josh Satin, Mesa Solar Sox (New York Mets). In 41 at-bats, Satin hit a blistering .390 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, a .479 on-base percentage (OBP),…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Two weeks ago, Cleveland Indians prospect Jason Kipnis was batting just .159 in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, a far cry from his .307 average during the 2010 minor-league season. “I kill nearly every rally the Peoria Javelinas put together,” he lamented in his blog. Talk about your turnarounds. Since then…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Brad Ausmus didn’t stay unemployed for long. The Gold Glove catcher, who retired from active play last month after completing his 18th year in the Majors, is joining the San Diego Padres as a Special Assistant to Baseball Operations. Ausmus, 41, has long been considered future manager material. During his final…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — New York Mets 1B Ike Davis finished 7th in voting for the N.L. Rookie of the Year award, the Baseball Writers’ Association of American reported today (11/15/2010). Despite finishing the 2010 season among the top N.L. rookies in several offensive categories, the 23-year-old received only two votes for Rookie of the…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Minnesota Twins 3B Danny Valencia finished 3rd in voting for the A.L. Rookie of the Year award, the Baseball Writers’ Association of American reported today (11/15/2010). Valencia, who led all A.L. rookies with a .311 batting average after being called-up from AAA in early June, received one 2nd-place vote and nine…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Baltimore Orioles prospect Robbie Widlansky is honing his skills in a most unusual place this offseason: Australia. As a member of the Perth Heat, 1B Widlansky is participating in the inaugural season of the Australian Baseball League, a 6-team, 40-game league sponsored by Major League Baseball and the Australian Baseball Federation….
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Milwaukee Brewers LF Ryan Braun has won his 3rd straight Silver Slugger award. Issued by Major League Baseball, the award recognizes the best hitter at each position in the National and American leagues. Braun hit .304 in 2010 with 25 HRs, 103 RBIs, 101 runs, a career-high 45 doubles, 14 stolen…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Here is your Arizona Fall League update for Wednesday, Nov. 10: 2B Jason Kipnis, a Cleveland Indians prospect, hit a double and a 2-run single in the Peoria Javelinas’ 8-5 win over the Surprise Rafters. Kipnis is batting .217 with 3 HRs, 10 extra-base hits, and 14 RBIs in 60 at-bats….
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Albert Pujols, not Ike Davis, has won the 2010 N.L. Gold Glove award for first basemen. Davis, the New York Mets rookie, was considered a strong contender for the award despite being a first-year player. The 23-year-old made several highlight-reel catches during the season and led all National League first baseman…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Peoria Javelinas crushed the Phoenix Desert Dogs 16-8 on Monday (11/8/2010). The win upped Peoria’s record to 14-7, tops in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Javelinas 2B Jason Kipnis, a Cleveland Indians prospect, tripled twice, walked, and scored two runs while playing DH. For the season, Kipnis is hitting just…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Here’s the latest news on several MLB players: Youkilis may switch back to 3B in 2011 Boston Red Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis, whose season-ending thumb injury helped scuttle the team’s playoff hopes year, says he’s ready to switch back to 3B if needed in 2011. It’s a possibility because Red Sox…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The West beat the East 3-2 in the Arizona Fall League’s “Rising Stars” game Saturday night (11/6/2010), and the 3 Jews selected to play in the nationally-broadcast showcase performed well. Playing for the victorious West: C Ryan Lavarnway, a Boston Red Sox prospect, went 1/2. He led off a third-inning rally…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — New York Mets prospect Josh Satin hasn’t gotten much playing time in the Arizona Fall League, but he’s made the most of those opportunities. On Friday (11/5/2010), Satin led the Mesa Solar Sox to a 13-5 win over the Surprise Rafters, going 3/5 with a 3-run HR and a 2-run single…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Baseball’s annual “Rising Stars” game will be broadcast on Saturday night (11/6/2010), and this year there’s even more reason than usual to watch. The 50 minor-leaguers chosen to play in the showcase game include 19 former 1st-round draft picks, and as a group they are considered among the most likely to…
