Jewish Baseball News

• DH Matt Mervis (Marlins) hit a 2-run, go-ahead HR in a 5-2 loss to the Reds on April 23, ending the day 1-for-4. Through April 26, Mervis ranked #8 in the Majors in home-run frequency with one every 9.57 ABs, and his 7 round-trippers were tied for #11 (4/27/2025)
• LF Harrison Bader (Twins) announced on a podcast this week that he will play for Team Israel in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, his first time wearing the blue and white, and he also talked about the plan with reporters at Target Field. “Just getting an opportunity to represent Israel on the baseball side and wearing that uniform, I think, is special for me and my friends and family,” he said. Bader had planned to play for Israel in the 2023 WBC but suffered an injury. On the podcast, Bader also shared why he chose to wear a Star of David on his belt while with the Mets. “October 7th, I think, it presented me with an opportunity to in many ways thank all of my Jewish friends who I grew up with and love dearly” (4/27/2025)
• The Pirates activated 1B Spencer Horwitz from the injured list on April 27 and sent him to Double-A for a rehab assignment. Horwitz underwent surgery on his right wrist since mid-February 2025 and has been recovering since (4/27/2025)
• Max Fried isn’t the only Jewish pitcher performing well in the Yankee ecosystem, as demonstrated again on April 23. RHP Eric Reyzelman (AAA), ranked New York’s #22 prospect, tossed 2 scoreless innings in a 5-0 win over the White Sox affiliate, yielding one hit and one walk while striking out one batter. The same day, RHP Harrison Cohen (AA) threw 1.2 scoreless innings in a 4-2 loss to the Rockies affiliate, surrendering one hit and no walks while striking out 3 batters. Through April 26, Reyzelman was 1-1 across 8 appearances with a 3.38 ERA, one blown save, a 1.31 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. Meanwhile, Cohen was 0-1 across 7 games with a 2.25 ERA, one save in one chance, a hold, 10 strikeouts over 8 combined innings, and a slim 0.88 WHIP (4/27/2025)
• C Andy Yerzy (Cardinals/AAA), playing his first game in the St. Louis farm system, hit a solo HR, stole a base, walked twice, and ended the day 2-for-2 in a 7-6 win over the Orioles affiliate on April 23. The Canadian, a 2nd-round pick out of high school in the 2016 draft, was released by the Reds earlier this month (4/27/2025)
• RHP Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) has thrown 9 no-hit innings since the start of the 2025 season, thanks to his latest outing, a 5-0 defeat by the Royals affiliate on April 24, during which the Pittsburgh native tossed 1.2 perfect innings and struck out 3. RF Zach Levenson backed Jacobson with a hit and a walk in the losing effort (4/27/2025)
• We want to correct last week’s summary of a pitching appearance by OF/3B Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/AA). Goosenberg, who never pitched in college, took the mound for the second time as a minor leaguer on April 20, entering the game with 2 outs in the top of the 11th inning, his team down 2 runs, and a man on first base. The right-hander’s first pitch plunked 3B Brock Wilken (Brewers/AA). But Goosenberg recovered from a 3-0 count against the next batter by tossing 2 called strikes and inducing a dribble fielded by the catcher to retire the side. Alas, his team went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to finish with a 5-3 loss (4/27/2025)

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