Used to be called ‘Bunts’
By Ron Kaplan, contributor Alex Bregman had two doubles (16), a single, a walk, three runs scored, and one RBI as the Houston Astros (57-27) beat up on the host Atlanta Braves, 16-4. Danny Valencia was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored for the Seattle Mariners (41-44) in a 7-3 loss to the visiting KC Royals. Kevin…
By Scott Barancik, editor With Team Israel’s surprising run at the World Baseball Championship behind us, Jewish Baseball News turns to that beloved annual rite: Spring Training. A total of 19 Jewish players were invited to MLB Spring Training camps this year, either as part of their teams’ active roster, 40-man roster, or non-roster invitee…
By Scott Barancik, editor You had to rise at 4:30pm ET today to watch underdog Team Israel play Korea live in the 2017 World Baseball Classic opener, but seeing Israel triumph 2-1 in 10 innings was worth missing some sleep. There were a few ulcer-inducing moments. Israel — which knocked out 8 hits and drew…
By Scott Barancik, editor When Team Israel announced its 28-man roster for the World Baseball Classic a couple weeks ago, Craig Breslow was on the list. The veteran Major League hurler would anchor Israel’s bullpen during the March tournament in South Korea, equipped with a nearly side-armed delivery he honed during the off-season. But now that he’s legitimately fighting…
By Ron Kaplan, correspondent “Slide, Kelly, Slide!” was usually heard in association with the great 19th-century player King Kelly, who played for several Major League teams and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945. But fans of the Israeli team that will be participating for the first time in the upcoming World Baseball Classic…
By Jonathan Mayo, special to Jewish Baseball News I never thought the two sides of my life would ever come together. Baseball and Israel. I mean, for most of my life, that would be like peanut butter and tomato sauce. Jews and baseball, now that’s long been a thing. That “Great Jews in Sports” pamphlet they joke about…
By Scott Barancik, editor At 6:00pm ET today, Israel released its final, 28-man roster for the World Baseball Classic in South Korea this March. The list includes a number of players who have never before represented Israel, and a handful who did so both in the 2013 and 2016 WBC qualifiers. The players are: Dylan…
By Scott Barancik, Editor The latest athlete to join the ranks of Jewish ballplayers is a 6-foot-4-inch first baseman with prodigious power and a promising future with the Toronto Blue Jays. California native Rowdy Tellez, 21, turned down a roster spot at USC in 2013 when the Blue Jays offered him an $850,000 signing bonus out…
By Scott Barancik, editor The roster of players set to represent Israel in the World Baseball Classic in South Korea this March is taking shape. Team Israel general manager Peter Kurz, whose squad of former Major League and current minor-league athletes guided Israel to a qualifying-round win in September, said Tuesday that 15 ballplayers had already committed to…
By Sam Brief, Correspondent In September’s qualifying round for the 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC), Colorado Rockies prospect Scotty Burcham tallied a .455 batting average, the best on Team Israel and among the top 15 for all teams. If not for Facebook, Burcham might never have swung a bat in Brooklyn. Since anyone who is Jewish or has…
By Scott Barancik, Editor With the first official pitch of Opening Day just hours away, we’re taking a look back at Spring Training to see which Jewish athletes played at the MLB level, and how they performed. Below is an abbreviated table showing the 13 Jews who took MLB swings this Spring. Click here for more complete…
By Scott Barancik, Editor When the Kansas City Royals invited newcomer Cody Decker to attend Spring Training, there was little doubt the 29-year-old prankster, social-media wiz, amateur film critic, and self-styled”Antihero” would make friends easily. But make the opening-day roster? Unlikely. The competition remains fierce, and the odds steep. Despite emerging from the San Diego Padres’ farm system…
By Zev Ben Avigdor, Correspondent The son of a choreographer and a crime-scene cleanup specialist, 21-year-old centerfielder Rhett Wiseman grew up in Mansfield, Mass. Drafted out of high school by the Chicago Cubs, he postponed pro ball for the chance to attend Vanderbilt University, where he helped deliver a College World Series championship. Wiseman may be best known…
[Updated 3/9/2016] By Scott Barancik, Editor At least 20 Jewish players are participating in Spring Training for a Major League team in 2016. The list includes eight active Major Leaguers and 11 minor leaguers, a majority of whom have MLB experience. One non-roster invitee, Houston Astros prospect Alex Bregman, was drafted in 2015 and is ranked…
By Scott Barancik, editor Starting today, Jewish Baseball News is introducing two daily features during the October MLB Playoffs: a numbers-driven item called “Stat of the Day,” and “On This Date,” which will recall special moments in Jewish sports history. Both retweetable features are powered by Masa Israel, a joint project of the Jewish Agency…
By Scott Barancik, editor A Jewish duo keyed Oakland’s 4-3 win yesterday over the Astros (9/18/2015). Danny Valencia supplied the power. Batting cleanup, the mid-season acquisition hit a solo HR in the 4th inning and a two-run shot in the 8th that proved to be the game-winner. Sam Fuld furnished the glove. Houston was up 2-0…
By Scott Barancik, editor Cody Decker returned to L.A. on Sunday, a day after his El Paso Chihuahuas were knocked out of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) playoffs. His future was uncertain: after seven seasons as a San Diego Padres farmhand, the franchise’s all-time minor-league home run leader (154 HRs) was due to become a…
By Scott Barancik, editor It looks like manager Brad Ausmus’s stay with the Detroit Tigers is coming to an end. Citing an unnamed source with “knowledge of the front office’s plans,” the Detroit Free Press reported this morning that Tigers owner Mike Ilitch will fire Ausmus sometime after the the team’s final game of the regular…
By Scott Barancik, editor It took 10 days after the horrific events of 9/11/2001 for baseball to resume in New York City. On Sept. 21, the hometown New York Mets’ Bruce Chen faced off against the Atlanta Braves’ Jason Marquis, a 23-year-old righthander from Staten Island. Before the game, Marquis was asked how he felt…
By Scott Barancik, editor It has been a big week for Reds prospect Zack Weiss. Weiss, a 23-year-old reliever drafted out of UCLA in 2013, began the season with the Daytona Tortugas (A+), where he quickly earned 5 saves before being promoted to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA) in early May. Since arriving he has established…
