Here are your MLB highlights for opening week of the 2021 season:
Who’s on first?
- A total of eight Jewish athletes started the 2021 season on Major League rosters. They include Richard Bleier, Alex Bregman, Max Fried, Dean Kremer, Joc Pederson, Kevin Pillar, Ryan Sheriff and Rowdy Tellez.
At the plate
- 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) hit .500 (6-for-12) with 2 HRs, a double, 5 RBIs, a .571 on-base percentage, and a 1.655 OPS (on-base plus slugging). That included a home run and a double on Opening Day.
- OF Joc Pederson (Cubs), who last played for the Dodgers, hit .000 (0-for-10) with 2 RBIs, a walk, and 5 strikeouts.
- 1B Rowdy Tellez (Blue Jays) went hitless (0-for-8) and struck out three times over two games.
- OF Kevin Pillar (Mets), who last played for the Rockies, did not play.
On the mound
- Max Fried (Braves) became the 10th Jewish player in MLB history to start a season opener. In a 3-2 loss to the Phillies, he yielded 2 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings while striking out 8 and hitting one batter. Fried was not tagged with the loss.
- Richard Bleier (Marlins) went 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA across 2 innings, yielding one earned run on a home run and striking out 2.
- Ryan Sherriff (Rays) yielded one earned run on 2 hits over 0.1 innings in an April 2 win and was tagged with a blown save. A day later, Tampa Bay placed Sherriff on the restricted list after he told the team he needed some time away from the game. Manager Kevin Cash declined to provided further details out of respect for the 30-year-old southpaw’s privacy. Jewish Baseball News wishes Ryan well and eagerly awaits his return.
- Dean Kremer (Orioles) is scheduled to make his 2021 debut on April 6 against the Yankees.
Miscellanea
- Last we heard, 14-year veteran Ryan Braun was learning toward retirement. And P Rob Kaminsky, who made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 2020 and produced a 1.93 ERA in 5 games, remains an unsigned free agent.
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