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 Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News When Philadelphia Phillies prospect B.J. Rosenberg made his Major League debut last week (6/9/2012), Jewish baseball fans around the world dropped us a line to ask: Is he one of ours? We asked the diligent researchers at Jewish Sports Review, and their answer was clear: Absolutely not, despite Rosenberg’s Jewish-sounding…
By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News Mondays blow. So inhale this: Hungering for more Jewish ballplayers? Jewish Sports Review recently uncovered two: Toronto Blue Jays prospect Ian Kadish, and Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jared Lakind. Kadish, a 23-year-old reliever, debuted last year with the Bluefield Blue Jays (Rookie), going 2-3 with a 2.67 ERA, 7 saves, and 35…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — In March 2008, the editors of a bi-monthly publication called Jewish Sports Review contacted Arizona State University sophomore Jason Kipnis with a question: was the star outfielder willing to be listed as a Jewish athlete? Kipnis, who was raised in no religion but whose father was Jewish, gave his okay. Fan…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Cleveland Indians 2B Jason Kipnis made his first MLB hit count. Coming to bat for just the 7th time since being called up from the “AAA” Columbus Clippers last week, Kipnis hit a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the 9th inning to give the Tribe a come-from-behind, 3-2 win…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Cleveland Indians 2B Jason Kipnis made his MLB debut Friday (7/22/2011), and while he didn’t get a hit in the team’s 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox, he did manage to get hit. The 24-year-old Illinois native grounded out and flied out in his first two at-bats against before getting…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Highly-touted Cleveland Indians prospect Jason Kipnis will be the newest Jewish major-leaguer. Shortly after today’s announcement of his impending promotion from the “AAA” Columbus Clippers (7/21/2011), MLB.com reported that Kipnis could make his MLB debut as early as Friday (7/22/2011). “It’s time!” the 24-year-old wrote on his Twitter feed earlier today….
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — So much to tell, so little time to tell it. Here are a few items worth noting: The 2011 AAA All-Star Game, which pits the International League against the Pacific Coast League, will be broadcast tonight at 9:00pm EST on ESPN. Cleveland Indians prospect Jason Kipnis will start at 2B for…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — In his first full season in “AAA” ball, Cleveland Indians prospect Jason Kipnis has all the markings of a star. Player of the Week winner? Yep, just last week in fact. All-Star selection? You bet. He’s the starting second baseman on the “AAA” International League squad, which will line up against…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — At least 19 Jews got playing time during Spring Training 2011, including five pitchers and 14 position players. Here are our awards honoring the best, worst, and most surprising performances: Best All-Around Offense: Ian Kinsler. The Texas Rangers 2B didn’t look like the same player who sat out nearly 100 games…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Spring Training 2011 is just two weeks old. Many players are still shedding their off-season rust. But a couple Jewish players are already tearing the stitching off the ball. Texas Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler, who was hobbled by injuries last season, leads all MLB players with 4 HRs, is tied for…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The number of Jewish minor-leaguers who will be attending a Major-League spring training this year has reached nine. According to MLB.com, the invitees include: Sam Fuld (Tampa Bay Rays) Ben Guez (Detroit Tigers) Jason Hirsh (New York Yankees) Gabe Kapler (Los Angeles Dodgers) Jason Kipnis (Cleveland Indians) David Kopp (St. Louis…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — So far, at least four Jewish minor-leaguers have been invited to attend Major League spring training camps in 2011. According to MLB team web sites, four ballplayers have been identified as “non-roster invitees” — that is, they have been invited to attend spring training even though they are not on their…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Arizona Fall League’s 30-game regular season came to an end Thursday (11/17/2008). So how did its six Jewish players do? Hitters 2B Josh Satin, Mesa Solar Sox (New York Mets). In 41 at-bats, Satin hit a blistering .390 with 2 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, a .479 on-base percentage (OBP),…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Two weeks ago, Cleveland Indians prospect Jason Kipnis was batting just .159 in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, a far cry from his .307 average during the 2010 minor-league season. “I kill nearly every rally the Peoria Javelinas put together,” he lamented in his blog. Talk about your turnarounds. Since then…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Here is your Arizona Fall League update for Wednesday, Nov. 10: 2B Jason Kipnis, a Cleveland Indians prospect, hit a double and a 2-run single in the Peoria Javelinas’ 8-5 win over the Surprise Rafters. Kipnis is batting .217 with 3 HRs, 10 extra-base hits, and 14 RBIs in 60 at-bats….
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The Peoria Javelinas crushed the Phoenix Desert Dogs 16-8 on Monday (11/8/2010). The win upped Peoria’s record to 14-7, tops in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. Javelinas 2B Jason Kipnis, a Cleveland Indians prospect, tripled twice, walked, and scored two runs while playing DH. For the season, Kipnis is hitting just…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The West beat the East 3-2 in the Arizona Fall League’s “Rising Stars” game Saturday night (11/6/2010), and the 3 Jews selected to play in the nationally-broadcast showcase performed well. Playing for the victorious West: C Ryan Lavarnway, a Boston Red Sox prospect, went 1/2. He led off a third-inning rally…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Baseball’s annual “Rising Stars” game will be broadcast on Saturday night (11/6/2010), and this year there’s even more reason than usual to watch. The 50 minor-leaguers chosen to play in the showcase game include 19 former 1st-round draft picks, and as a group they are considered among the most likely to…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Another day, another accolade for 2B Jason Kipnis. On Oct. 21, the Cleveland Indians named Kipnis the franchise’s 2010 Minor League Player of the Year. It’s just the latest recognition of what has been a remarkable year for the 23-year-old standout. According to this MLB.com article, Kipnis currently ranks third on…
