Here’s what’s going on in the world of Jewish baseball.
MLB
- Reds rookie Jon Moscot dislocated his shoulder in a freak play Monday. In the first inning of just his 3rd MLB start, Moscot caught Detroit’s Anthony Gose in a rundown and injured himself making a diving tag. No word yet on how long he’ll be out ***
- The Atlanta Braves called-up catcher Ryan Lavarnway on Monday, and Rant Sports called it a “great move.” Lavarnway became a free agent last month when the Orioles designated him for assignment and he refused a minor-league post ***
- Boston has reactivated reliever Craig Breslow, who was out on paternity leave. Breslow is three appearances shy of his 500th MLB game ***
- Ian Kinsler, the all-time Jewish stolen base leader, is seven thefts shy of 200 ***
- Oakland’s Ike Davis, on the D.L. since May 13, is three games into a rehab assignment with the franchise’s AAA team. On Monday he went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs ***
- MLB Central broadcast a terrific, 13-minute interview Monday with Toronto’s Kevin Pillar ***
MLB draft
- Add this name to your list of Jewish players in this month’s MLB draft: Adam Walton. The University of Illinois shortstop was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in Round 20, 613th overall ***
- Twelve of the 15 Jewish players drafted this month came from college. Only three — Dalton Blumenfeld, Justin Cohen and Kyle Molnar — were drafted straight out of high school ***
Minor leagues
- Padres prospect Cody Decker knocked one out of the park Sunday (6/14/2015) for his 12th HR, tied for 3rd most among all AAA players. Meanwhile, his 41 RBIs through Sunday ranked 7th. Even more impressive? Decker did so in just 171 plate appearances. The 6 RBI leaders ahead of Decker had between 232 and 271 plate appearances ***
- St. Louis prospect Corey Baker (AA) was dominant on the mound Monday, pitching 5 shutout innings and giving up just 2 hits and a walk. Despite the no-decision, he is 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 37.1 innings ***
- Nats prospect Richard Bleier (AA) pitched another gem Saturday (6/13/2015), scattering 7 hits over seven innings and walking none. The lone run against Bleier, scored in the 5th, ending his 26-inning scoreless streak at the Harrisburg Senators’ home field. The 28-year-old southpaw is a combined 5-3 with a 3.34 ERA in AA and AAA action ***
- Shortly before this year’s MLB draft, Baseball America published an article on four college shortstops who were likely to be top draft picks, including eventual #2 overall pick Alex Bregman, “LSU’s fiery on-the-field and off-the-field leader.” Bregman bristled when asked whether he’d be good enough to play shortstop in the Majors. “To play shortstop, you have to be able to make the play in the six hole. Check. You have to be able to turn a double play. Check. And you have to be able to make the routine play…I think I’m a shortstop,” he replied ***
College World Series
- Vanderbilt beat the University of Illinois in a 4-3, walk-off win Monday. Vandy OF Rhett Wiseman, a 3rd-round draft pick of the Nationals, went 1-for-4 with a double ***
- Top-ranked LSU lost 10-3 to Texas Christian on Sunday. LSU SS Alex Bregman, picked #2 overall by the Astros in this month’s MLB draft, went 2-for-4 ***
In other sports
- Touchdown Israel, A documentary about Jews and Arabs playing American football in Israel is making the rounds of Jewish film festivals ***
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