Zach Borenstein’s homer barrage

Help keep Jewish Baseball News free! Use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik, editor If California League (High A) pitchers weren’t paying much attention to Zach Borenstein before, they certainly are now. The 22-year-old outfielder hit not one but two 3-run HRs Sunday night (4/28/2013) in the Inland Empire 66ers’ 12-7 victory over the Lancaster Lugnuts. The…

Maxx Tissenbaum’s blog: Up, down, and out

Editor’s note: Maxx Tissenbaum is a 21-year-old prospect with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the San Diego Padres’ Single-A team, and an honest chronicler of life in the minor-leagues. Click here to see Maxx‘s past blog entries, and click here to join our mail list. _____________________________ By Maxx Tissenbaum/Special to Jewish Baseball News It has been a while since I…

Joc Pederson named Southern League (AA) Player of the Week

Help keep Jewish Baseball News free! Use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Joc Pederson is living up to his billing. Ranked the Los Angeles Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect by Baseball America, the Chattanooga Lookouts outfielder celebrated his 21st birthday Sunday (4/21/2013) by being named the Southern League (AA) Offensive Player of the Week. Pederson earned the…

On the move: Greenberg, Haerther, Kaplan

Help keep Jewish Baseball News free! Use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News At least three players recently released by their Minor League teams have taken jobs in independent baseball leagues. All three played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers last year. Adam Greenberg has rejoined the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent…

Nate Freiman crushes first MLB home run

Help keep Jewish Baseball News free! Use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News It took Oakland A’s rookie Nate Freiman just 14 MLB at-bats to smash his first home run (see video), a 3-run shot off Houston Astros starter Erik Bedard that landed in the upper-level left-field bleachers before a cheering hometown crowd on Monday (4/15/2013)….

Maxx Tissenbaum’s blog: Our home opener

Editor’s note: Maxx Tissenbaum is a 21-year-old prospect with the San Diego Padres organization and an honest chronicler of life in the minor-leagues. Click here to see Maxx‘s past blog entries, and here to join our mail list. _____________________________ By Maxx Tissenbaum/Special to Jewish Baseball News There are very few days in a calendar year that I find to…

Introducing: Maxx Tissenbaum’s blog

Going shopping? Please use our Amazon.com link ———————————————————————— By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News One of the minor leagues’ most intriguing (and proudly Jewish) young players today is Maxx Tissenbaum, a 21-year-old prospect with the San Diego Padres. And not just because he’s a sure-handed infielder, tough out, and base-on-balls machine. The switch-hitting Toronto native is an excellent writer, too….

Minor-league highlights (Saturday, 4/6)

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)….

A look back at spring training’s standouts

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 —…

Nate Freiman makes A’s opening-day roster

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…

New teams for Nate Freiman, Danny Valencia

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…

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Kevin Pillar: the best Jewish player you’ve never heard of

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…

Israel’s revenge: Greenberg helps Baltimore trounce Spain

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…

No longer a Phillie, Michael Schwimer breezes through Blue Jays debut

  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…

Ryan Sadowski makes rare return from Korean league to U.S.

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…

Ex-minor leaguer from Venezuela lands in Japan

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…

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Richard Stock, Cleveland Indians prospect

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…

Red Sox’ Kalish faces surgery, again

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…

Jewish Baseball News names top minor-leaguers of 2012

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)…

One at-bat wasn’t enough: Adam Greenberg signs minor-league deal with O’s

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…