By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the week of August 5-11, 2019: Mazel tov CF Kevin Pillar (Giants) recently talked to the Jewish News of Northern California about his bar mitzvah, a religious studies course he took in high school, and being one of the few Jewish players in the Major…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of July 29-August 4, 2019: Hitter of the Week: Zane Gurwitz (Angels) 2B Zane Gurwitz (Angels/High-A/Inland Empire 66ers) hit .391 (9-for-23) with a home run, triple, 2 doubles, 7 RBIs, and a .462 OBP. The highlight: going 4-for-5 with a HR on August…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the week of July 29-August 4, 2019: Mazel tov C Garrett Stubbs (Astros) was called-up from Triple-A on August 2 to provide back-up for starter Robinson Chirinos, who reported soreness in his left shoulder. In an earlier stint with Houston this season, Stubbs hit .160…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of July 22-28, 2019: Hitter of the Week: Rowdy Tellez (Blue Jays) 1B Rowdy Tellez (Blue Jays/Triple-A/Buffalo Bisons), who was sent down to Triple-A on July 15, made a strong case last week for returning to Toronto, hitting .429 (9-for-21) with 4 HRs, a…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the week of July 22-28, 2019: Mazel tov Israel’s baseball team took another step toward qualifying for the 2020 Olympics last week when it crushed Lithuania in a battle of B-Pool champions at the European Championships. Israel beat Lithuania 12-2 and 15-0 in the best-of-three…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of July 15-21, 2019: Hitter of the Week: Ryan Lavarnway (Reds) C Ryan Lavarnway signed a one-year Major League contract with Cincinnati on July 18 and wasted no time contributing. In his Reds debut the following day — his first Major League start…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the week of July 15-21, 2019: Mazel tov C Ryan Lavarnway signed a one-year Major League contract with Cincinnati on July 18 and wasted no time contributing. In his Reds debut the following day — his first Major League start since July 29, 2017 —…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the three weeks beginning June 24, 2019 and ending July 14, 2019: Mazel tov The 2019 Home Run Derby was 25% Jewish, with Joc Pederson (Dodgers) and Alex Bregman (Astros) filling 2 of 8 slots. After beating Bregman 21-14 in the first round, Pederson faced…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of July 8-14, 2019: Hitter of the Week: David Vinsky (Cardinals) OF David Vinsky (Cardinals/A-short-season/State College Spikes), a 2019 draftee, hit .444 (12-for-27) with 3 doubles, 2 stolen bases, 5 RBIs, just 3 strikeouts, and a .500 OBP, highlighted by a 5-for-5…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Because we didn’t publish Minor-League Monday last week, today we give you highlights for the past two weeks (June 24-July 7, 2019): Hitter of the Fortnight: Cody Decker (Diamondbacks) 1B Cody Decker (Diamondbacks/AAA/Reno Aces), whose 204 career home runs rank #1 among active minor leaguers, retired from baseball in style last…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Israel’s national baseball team went 6-0 last week to win its pool in the European Championship, a preliminary qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympics. Led by tournament MVP Blake Gailen, a Triple-A prospect with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Israel’s 24-man roster ran through opponents Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Ireland but had…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of June 17-23, 2019: Hitter of the Week: CJ Stubbs (Astros) C CJ Stubbs (Astros/A-short-season/Tri-City ValleyCats) homered in his first pro at-bat on June 20…and then homered again the following day. For the week, the younger brother of Astros catcher Garrett Stubbs…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the week of June 17-23, 2019: Mazel tov Alex Bregman (Astros) was named a finalist for the 2019 All-Star Game. He led all A.L. third basemen with 2.3-million votes, blowing away #2 Gio Urshela’s 857,474 votes. Joc Pederson (Dodgers) was named a finalist for the…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of June 10-16, 2019: Hitter of the Week: Scotty Burcham (Rockies) SS Scotty Burcham (Rockies/AA/Hartford Yard Goats) hit .333 (4-for-12) with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and a .467 OBP. Two of his hits came during a June 12 start by teammate Brandon Gold….
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the week of June 10-16, 2019: Mazel tov As of June 10, Alex Bregman (Astros) led all A.L. third basemen with 630,159 All Star votes, dwarfing #2 Gio Urshela’s 269,716 votes. As of June 10, Joc Pederson (Dodgers) was the #4 vote-getter among N.L. outfielders,…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of June 3-9, 2019: Hitter of the Week: Ty Kelly (Angels) 2B Ty Kelly (Angels/AAA/Salt Lake Bees) hit .300 (6-for-20) with 3 doubles, 2 triples, an RBI, and a .391 OBP. Pitcher of the Week: Kenny Rosenberg (Rays) Kenny Rosenberg (Rays/AA/Montgomery Biscuits) improved…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your MLB highlights for the week of June 3-9, 2019: Mazel tov At least 16 Jewish players were selected in last week’s MLB draft, including one each in the 1st and 2nd rounds. Ryan Braun (Brewers) hit his 332nd career home run to surpass Tigers legend Hank Greenberg as…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Ryan Braun hit career home run #332 on Friday (6/7/2019) to surpass Detroit Tigers legend Hank Greenberg as the all-time Jewish leader (see list). The three-run homer was suitably majestic. Coming off a 92-mph fastball tossed by Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Nick Kingham, the 6th-inning shot traveled 419 feet to dead center…
By Scott Barancik, Editor The 2019 draft was a strong one. Our colleagues at Jewish Sports Review have identified at least 16 Jewish draftees so far and may yet find more. The class includes 9 pitchers, 4 outfielders, 2 catchers and a shortstop. Three players were selected in the first 5 rounds, all but one…
By Scott Barancik, Editor Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of May 27-June 2, 2019: Hitter of the Week: Cody Decker (Diamondbacks) 1B Cody Decker (Diamondbacks/AAA/Reno Aces) hit .346 (9-for-26) with 3 HRs, 2 doubles, 6 RBI, and a .433 on-base percentage. What’s more, Decker’s May 28th round-tripper was his 200th in the…
