By Scott Barancik, editor
Jewish Baseball News’ most recent MLB update took us through games played June 17. Following is an overview of what has happened since then, through games played August 21.
Mazel Tov
- P Jake Fishman (Marlins) became the third Jewish pitcher to make his MLB debut in 2022. In 3.1 innings of relief against the Mets on July 31, the 27-year-old yielded one earned run on 4 hits, no walks, and a hit batter (click here to see a video clip). Fishman was sent back down to Triple-A the following day.
- P Bubby Rossman (Phillies), who played for Israel in the 2021 European Baseball Championship, made his MLB debut on July 13, yielding 2 earned runs over one inning and yielding a HR, one walk, and one strikeout. Since returning to Triple-A, Rossman is 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 15.1 innings.
- OF Joc Pederson (Giants) was a starter in the 2022 All-Star Game, his second All-Star appearance. Max Fried was added to the N.L. roster but chose not to pitch, citing a recent lengthy outing.
- The Yankees went on a Jewish pitcher buying spree in August, acquiring reliever Scott Effross from the cellar-dweller Cubs as well as two prospects — draftee Eric Reyzelman and undrafted free agent Harrison Cohen — in the space of 20 days.
- Two Jewish players squared off from the mound in a July 22 game (see box). Cubs hurler Scott Effross tossed a perfect inning. Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs was far less effective in his second mound appearance this season, yielding 5 earned runs on two HRs and a walk over one inning.
- Retired second baseman Ian Kinsler was selected to manage Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Championship. He also was one of five athletes to hoist a torch during the opening ceremony at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Season overview
- Jewish pitchers continue to outpace their peers in 2022. Through August 21, they were a combined 23-16 with a 4.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 3.19 ERA, substantially better than the MLB average ERA of 3.93.
- Jewish batters are hitting a combined .250 so far this season, better than the MLB average of .241. They also are hitting HRs at a far faster clip than the Majors as a whole — one for every 18.0 at-bats, versus one in 31.5 ABs.
Stats to share
- C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) packs a lot of power into a small frame. So far, he is one of only 11 Major Leaguers to hit a home run this season who stand no more than 5’11” and weigh no more than 170 pounds. Diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve of the Astros (5’6″ and 166 pounds) leads the pack with 20 HRs, but Stubbs’ HR pace (one every 16.6 at-bats) ranks #1.
- 1B Rowdy Tellez (Brewers) celebrated on August 5 when he stole second base. He is one of just 5 MLB players to steal a base this season who stand at least 6’4″ and weigh at least 255 pounds.
- Tellez is among National League leaders in multiple categories, including #2 in intentional walks (9), #2 in fielding percentage among first basemen (.999), #2 in maximum exit velocity (116.9 mph), #4 in at-bats per HR (15.2) and hard-hit balls (40.4%), #7 in HRs (26/tied), and #10 in RBIs (74). Not bad for a 30th-round draft pick. (Special thanks to reader Jack W. for providing JBN with multiple statistical insights.)
- SS Alex Bregman (Astros) is among N.L. leaders in multiple categories, including #1 in lowest swing percentage at balls outside the strike zone (21.2%), #3 in walk-to-strikeout ratio (1.05) and runs scored (72), #6 in highest walk percentage (12.9%), #7 in RBIs (73/tied) and wins above replacement (4.1), #8 in fewest swings and misses on pitches (5.6%), and #9 in lowest strikeout rate (12.4%).
- Among N.L. hitters with at least 250 ABs, LF Joc Pederson (Giants) ranks #3 in hard-hit balls (52.7%) and #4 in average exit velocity (92.9 mph). (NOTE: Pederson is not qualified to win a batting title in 2022 because he will fall short of the minimum number of at-bats. JBN set a lower AB minimum — 250 — in order to show how Pederson lines up against his peers.)
- P Dean Kremer (Orioles) had three consecutive scoreless outings of five innings or more from June 17 through June 28. The Oriole record of four straight scoreless outings is held by Hall of Fame hurler Jim Palmer and two others.
- P Max Fried (Braves) is among N.L. leaders in multiple categories, including #1 in home run infrequency (0.43 per 9 innings) and average curveball vertical movement (-10.4), #2 in walk infrequency (1.55% per 9 innings) and fielding-independent pitching (2.49), #3 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.32), #4 in wins above replacement (4.4) and range factor per 9 innings (2.11), #5 in ERA (2.60), #6 in wins (11), and #10 in average fastball velocity (94.1 mph/tied).
At the plate
- Backup catcher Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) is making the most of his limited role. It’s no surprise that the defensive specialist has a .991 fielding percentage, but Stubbs’ prowess at the plate has been intriguing. In just 83 at-bats, he is hitting .289 with 5 HRs, 14 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, a .366 on-base percentage (OBP), and an .896 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
- After a fast start in 2022, LF Joc Pederson (Giants) has tapered off. In 130 at-bats since June 17, the journeyman has hit just .223 with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs, a .297 OBP, and a .697 OPS. Oddly, he’s performed better since returning from a July 28 concussion, hitting .290 with a .342 OBP. A rumor that Atlanta might seek to reacquire Pederson prior to the trade deadline failed to materialize.
- 1B Rowdy Tellez (Brewers) has hit only .215 in 177 ABs since June 17, but that includes 16 HRs, 36 RBIs, and a .335 OBP.
- SS Alex Bregman (Astros) has recovered some of his batting swagger of late. Through games played June 17, he was hitting .216 with 7 HRs, 30 RBIs, a .336 OBP, and a .712 OPS. Since then, Bregman has hit .309 with 11 HRs, 42 RBIs, a .396 OBP, and a .956 OPS. The highlight came August 18, when he went 4-for-6 with 2 HRs, 2 doubles, and 6 RBIs against the White Sox.
On the mound
- Max Fried (Braves) has picked up his already stellar play recently. Through June 17, he was 7-2 with a 2.90 ERA. Since then, he’s dropped his ERA to 2.23, although a lack of run support left him with a 4-2 record.
- In anticipation of the playoffs, the Yankees acquired reliever Scott Effross from the Cubs on 8/1/2022. It’s not hard to understand why. Through July, the workhorse had pitched in 47 games, going 1-4 with 13 holds, one save, and a 2.66 ERA. The move already has paid off. In 7 games with New York, Effross is 0-0 with a save, 2 holds, and a 3.24 ERA.
- Dean Kremer (Orioles) is enjoying career bests in his third MLB season. His record of 5-4 in 2022 compares to a combined 1-8 in his rookie season and 2021, and he has made significant improvements in ERA (3.45 vs. 6.84), walks/hits per inning (1.295 vs. 1.590), walks per 9 innings (2.1 vs. 4.6), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.28 vs. 1.86).
- In what has been a challenging season, Richard Bleier (Marlins) is on the upswing. Through June 17, he was 0-1 with a blown save, 3 holds, 5.06 ERA, and was hit by opposing batters at a .338 clip and a .923 OPS. Since then, Bleier is 2-0 with 2 blown saves, one hold, a 2.57 ERA, and has yielded a .286 batting average and a .757 OPS.
- P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels), who made his MLB debut in April, got his third call-up in June — and the opportunity to make his first Major League start. The rookie had his best outing yet, yielding 2 hits and 3 walks over 4.2 innings and striking out one en route to a 4-0 win over the Mariners on June 19. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop Anaheim from sending him down afterward.
- P Eli Morgan (Indians) has been two different pitchers this season. Through June 17, he was 2-2 with one blown save, 6 holds, a 1.71 ERA, 39 strikeouts and just 5 walks across 31.2 innings, and had held opponents to a remarkable .117 batting average and .403 OPS. Since then, Morgan has gone 2-1 with 3 blown saves, 4 holds, an 8.50 ERA, 19 strikeouts and 3 walks across 18 innings, and has given up a .304 batting average and a .988 OPS.
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