• Matt Mervis (Cubs) hasn’t pitched since college, but with Red Sox ahead 11-0 after 7 innings, Chicago protects bullpen by moving him from DH to mound. Boston feasts on Mervis like a Passover-weary Jew on chametz, with 7 of 9 batters reaching base via singles or doubles. Though Mervis’ 37 pitches range in speed from 49.5-mph to 87.4-mph, 32 top out below less than 60-mph, such as this 56-mph eephus. By time Mervis is relieved, score is 17-0, and he has 81.00 ERA (4/27/2024)
  • We missed this one: 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) is named California League Player of the Week after hitting .462 (6-for-13) from April 8-14, with double, triple, HR, 7 RBIs, OBP of .529, and 1.453 OPS. It is second POTW honor for Gelof, who also earned California League Player of the Month honors in September 2023 (4/15/2024)
  • In other minor-league highlights, 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) makes full-extension catch to retire first batter of game, and CJ Stubbs (Astros/AA) uses innovative “dipsy-doodle” to avoid pickoff at first base (4/26/2024)
  • P Brian Zeldin (U. of Georgia), a 24-year-old transfer student, is named to midseason watch list for National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Stopper of the Year award. Bulldogs’ closer, one of two Jewish pitchers on team, is 3-2 with 5 saves, 3.86 ERA, and 1.40 WHIP (4/24/2024)
  • P Aaron Davenport (Guardians/AA) yields 2 earned runs over 5 innings to earn win in 6-2 victory over Pirates affiliate. In 4 starts this season, U. of Hawaii alum is 2-0 with 2.21 ERA and 1.33 WHIP (4/26/2024)
  • White Sox are expected to designate OF Kevin Pillar for assignment. Meanwhile, on April 25, Athletics place 2B Jake Gelof on injured list with strained left oblique (4/26/2024)
  • Rob Friedman, whose Pitching Ninja feed on X has a half-million followers, celebrates nasty pitch by Braves P Max Fried against Marlins 2B Luis Arráez in a post. “Here lies Luis Arráez…2x Batting Champ,” Friedman jokes. “Cause of Death: Max Fried” (4/23/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA) dominates Rangers affiliate over 7 shutout innings, but team loses 1-0. Southpaw yields just 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5, thus shrinking ERA to 3.19 and WHIP to 1.06 (4/25/2024)
  • Photo captures 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) eating matzoh offered by a Cubs fan at Wrigley Field (4/24/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 1-for-3 with third triple of season and 2 walks. Two-run triple kicks off scoring in 1st inning and proves margin of difference in 12-10 win over Padres franchise. Gelof ranks #1 in California League with 22 RBIs, #4 with .350 average and .481 OBP, and #3 with 1.098 OPS (4/25/2024)
  • RF RJ Schreck (Mariners/High-A) reaches base 4 times in 6-2 loss to Angels affiliate, going 2-for-3 with RBI single, 2 walks, and stolen base (4/25/2024)
  • Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (independent Atlantic League) re-sign 2B Michael Wielansky. Former Astros prospect hit .320 (31-for-97) with 8 HRs, 21 RBIs, and 1.060 OPS for Blue Crabs in 2023 before being signed to minor-league deal by San Francisco Giants. Wielansky joins P Alex Katz, a former White Sox, Orioles, and Cubs prospect who signed with Blue Crabs on March 11 (4/11/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) strikes out 10 batters for second time in career as Baltimore beats Angels 6-5 in California, yielding 2 earned runs on 3 hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. Win is first in five starts this season for Kremer, who retires CF Mike Trout twice but gives up solo HR to three-time MVP in 6th inning (4/24/2024)
  • DH Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 1-for-3 with solo HR in 10-8 win over Padres affiliate. Los Angeles’ #22 prospect ranks high among California League batters in multiple categories, including #3 with .351 batting average, #1 with 20 RBIs, #6 with .473 OBP, and #4 with 1.069 OPS (4/24/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) reaches bases 3 times in 8-2 loss to Cubs affiliate, going 1-for-3 with double and 2 walks. Toronto’s #16 prospect ranks #6 in International League with .352 batting average, #4 with .495 OBP, #5 with 22% walk rate, and #5 with 1.67 walk-to-strikeout ratio (4/24/2024)
  • 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) manages to drive in tie-breaking run not once but twice in 8-7 victory over Mariners affiliate. His pinch-hit, RBI single in bottom of 6th inning gives team 5-4 lead, while his two-run double in bottom of 8th inning puts team up 7-5 (4/24/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (White Sox) hits solo HR, his first round-tripper as member of White Sox, but Twins prevail 6-3 (4/24/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) realizes unusual feat in 2-1 win over Brewers affiliate. Entering game in 6th inning with a man on base and score tied 0-0, Kravetz is tagged with blown save after yielding run-scoring double. But 6’8″ southpaw gives up no other runs over 1.2 innings and ultimately is credited with win. He is 2-0 this season with 2 blown saves, 0.77 ERA, and 1.03 WHIP in 8 appearances (4/24/2024)
  • Cubs call-up 1B Matt Mervis from Triple-A. Undrafted recruit out of Duke U. made MLB debut in 2023 but returned to minors at end of May. He is hitting .288 with 4 HRs, 13 RBIs, OBP of .402, and 1.008 OPS (4/23/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves), who struggled in three of first 4 starts this season, turns in best statistical outing of career in 5-0 victory over Marlins. For first time, lanky southpaw earns complete-game shutout with 3 or fewer hits, no walks, and 92 or fewer pitches. He also strikes out 6 batters. According to Associated Press, “Fried was so dominant the Braves didn’t have anyone in the bullpen even bother warming up” (4/23/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 3-for-5 and 4 RBIs in 7-2 win over Padres affiliate, including game-tying double in 5th inning and go-ahead double in 7th inning. Younger brother of Oakland’s Zack Gelof is hitting .435 with 1.152 OPS over past 6 games and has poked hits in all but 2 of 14 games this season (4/23/2024)
  • Dramatic 2-run HR by 2B Zack Gelof breaks up scoreless game in top of 9th inning en route to 2-0 win over Yankees at Yankee Stadium (4/22/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) continues domination of Eastern League batters, giving up one hit over 1.1 scoreless innings and earning 3rd save in 3 chances as team beats Yankees affiliate 10-4. Single is first baserunner Lazar has allowed in 7.1. innings of relief this season. Despite record, Lazar is not among MLB’s Top 30 Philadelphia prospects (4/22/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) scores game’s first run in 5-3 loss to Cardinals, ending day 2-for-3 with double and walk. Platooning Pederson has paid dividends for Arizona. Left-handed batter is hitting .300 (12-for-40) against right-handed pitchers, with one HR, 4 RBIs, OBP of .444, 10 walks against 3 strikeouts, and .894 OPS. Against left-handed pitchers, Pederson is 2-for-3 with solo HR, double, and walk (4/22/2024)
  • LF/1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA), Toronto’s #16 prospect, goes 4-for-6 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs in 16-4 win over Guardians affiliate. Horwitz ranks #2 among International League batters with .488 OBP, #5 with .353 batting average, and #24 (tied) with 13 RBIs (4/21/2024)
  • LF Zach Levenson (Cardinals/High-A), St. Louis’s #22 prospect, belts 2-run, go-ahead HR in 4-2 win over top-ranked Royals affiliate. Blast is 2023 draftee’s first since promotion to High-A (4/21/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA), Chicago’s #13 prospect, puts team on path to 9-3 win over Reds affiliate with solo HR in 1st inning. Mervis ranks #12 (tied) in International league with 5 HRs, #14 with 1.008 OPS, and #24 (tied) with 13 RBIs (4/21/2024)
  • P Jake Bird (Rockies) tosses 2 scoreless innings in 2-1 win over Mariners, yielding a hit and walk while striking out three (4/21/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 4-for-5 with double, RBI single, and 4th stolen base of season in 9-4 win over Dodgers. It’s his second 4-hit game in eight-year career and first since September 2021 (4/19/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) leaves mound in 6th inning with 2 men on base, 2 outs, and Royals leading 1-0. Relief pitcher allows 5 runs to score in remainder of inning, and Kremer is tagged with loss in 9-4 final. In 4 starts, he is 0-2 with 4.91 ERA, 17 strikeouts and 5 walks across 22 innings, and 1.14 WHIP (4/19/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) extends early-season perfection in 8-2 win over Mets affiliate, striking out 4 batters over 2 flawless innings. Lazar is 0-0 with 2 saves, 0.00 ERA, 12 strikeouts over 6 combined innings, and has not allowed a single baserunner (4/19/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), Los Angeles’s #22 prospect, goes 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, including 2-run, go-ahead single, in 9-6 win over Angels affiliate (4/19/2024)
  • A 2-run HR in 2nd inning by DH Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/AA) gives team all the runs it needs in 2-1 win over Rays affiliate (4/19/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 1-for-4 with 2-run HR in 9-1 win over Pirates. The round-tripper, his first with Mets, exits bat at 106.3-mph (4/17/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) enters game as pinch-hitter in 6th inning and strokes 402-foot HR in 9th inning of 5-3 loss to Cubs. Earlier in game, Pederson discusses what is “so special” about his new team (4/17/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) pitches 5 shaky innings in 5-4, extra-winning win over Astros but doesn’t get credit for victory, yielding 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 4 walks. He also loses battle against 3B Alex Bregman, giving up game-tying RBI single and 2 walks in 3 faceoffs (4/17/2024)
  • The 2024 season has not been kind to P Max Fried (Braves). Through 4 starts, he is 1-0 with 7.71 ERA, 1.99 WHIP, 6.7 strikeouts per 9 innings, and 5.0 walks per 9 innings. Last year, by contrast, the 6’4″ southpaw went 2-0 with 0.45 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 8.1 strikeouts per 9 IP, and 1.8 walks per 9 IP. No reason to panic, though. In 2021, arguably Fried’s worst 4-game start, he went 1-1 with 8.44 ERA and 2.06 WHIP but ended season 14-7 with 2 shutouts, 3.04 ERA, and 1.087 WHIP (4/17/2024)
  • C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) goes 1-for-2 with 2-run single and walk in 9-0 win over Brooklyn Cyclones. On other side of field, P Ben Simon tosses scoreless inning of relief, yielding one hit and striking out 2. With 8 RBIs, Dissin and LF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) are tied for #6 in South Atlantic League (4/17/2024)
  • Israel Baseball launches new clothing line including hats, shirts, and hoodies (4/17/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), batting 9th in lineup, strokes 2-run, tie-breaking double in bottom of 8th inning en route to 6-3 win over Pirates at home. Wearing belt with Star of David painted on it, newly-minted Met also is hit by pitch, records third SB of season, and makes running grab in deep left-center. On other side of field, cleanup hitter 1B Rowdy Tellez goes 0-for-4 (4/15/2024)
  • Benjamin Hochman, sports columnist with St. Louis Post-Dispatch, eulogizes local Jewish legend Ken Holtzman, who died April 14 at age 78 (4/16/2024)
  • Prep Baseball ranks OF/3B Nathan Eisfelder the #2 ballplayer among all high-school seniors in Tennessee, and #17 in his graduating class nationwide. The 6’2″ righthander committed to U. of Tennessee in August 2023 (4/17/2024)
  • LF Dalton Guthrie (Red Sox/AAA), batting last in lineup, goes 2-for-4 with 3-run, tie-breaking HR and 4 RBIs in 7-4 win over Rays affiliate (4/16/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) goes 1-for-2 with HBP, sac fly, and 2-run HR, his first round-tripper since signing free-agent deal with Arizona, in 12-11, extra-inning win over Cubs. Veteran is hitting .323 (10-for-31) with one HR, 4 RBIs, OBP of .465, and 9 walks against just one strikeout (4/16/2024)
  • P Sam Delaplane, a former Mariners and Giants prospect whose promising career has been impacted by multiple injuries, signs free-agent contract with Long Island Ducks of independent Atlantic League (4/11/2024)
  • Three-time World Series champion and two-time All Star Ken Holtzman, who also tossed 2 no-hitters (one, two) for the Cubs, passed away April 14 at age 78. Described in a tweet as “one of the best left-handed pitchers in Cubs history,” Holtzman played in four separate World Series with the Athletics, amassing an enviable 4-1 record with 2.55 ERA and helping himself at the plate by hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a HR and 3 doubles. Click here for more on Holtzman’s amazing career (4/15/2024)
  • Israel Baseball launches new merchandise, including hats, shirts, and hoodies (4/17/2024)
  • Batting leadoff, 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) reaches base in all 5 plate appearances in 17-0 crushing of Nationals affiliate, going 3-for-3 with 2 walks and RBI double. Horwitz is on a tear. He ranks #2 among International League hitters with .395 batting average, #1 with .559 OBP, and #9 with 1.094 OPS — two slots behind Cubs slugger Matt Mervis (4/14/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) breakes scoreless tie in 8th inning with RBI single, thrilling the hometown crowd, and New York goes on to beat Royals 2-1. He finishes day 2-for-4 (4/14/2024)
  • Batting cleanup, RF Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox) goes 3-for-5 with 2-run double, but it’s not enough to prevent 6-4 loss to Pirates affiliate (4/14/2024)
  • P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) remains perfect, tossing 2 innings without a hit or walk and striking out three in 9-5 loss to Red Sox affiliate. In 3 outings and a combined 4 innings this season, the untouchable righthander has fanned 8 of 12 batters (4/14/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) strikes out 4 batters over 1.2 scoreless innings in 7-5 loss to Guardians affiliate. He has yet to give up a run in 5 outings this season (4/13/2024)
  • 2B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) hits RBI single and 9th-inning HR to finish day 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs, but team falls 13-11 to Twins affiliate (4/14/2024)
  • P Tanner Jacobson (Cardinals/High-A) throws 2 scoreless innings in 9-4 loss to Marlins affiliate, yielding one hit and no walks while striking out 2 batters (4/14/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes deep twice (one, two) in 6-0 win over Twins affiliate, including 2-run shot in 1st inning. It’s third time he has smacked 2 HRs in a game but first time in 2 years. Mervis is hitting .341 (15-for-44) with 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, OBP of .426, and 1.085 OPS (4/12/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) regains All-Star form after 2 tough outings, yielding one earned run on 4 hits and a walk over 6.1 innings while fanning 4 batters en route to 8-1 win over Marlins. Fried, who twice has finished within top 5 contestants for Cy Young Award, induces 10 groundouts against just 2 flyouts (4/12/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) opens scoring with 2-run single and scores walk-off run in bottom of 9th inning to beat Athletics affiliate 4-3. He ends day 1-for-3 with intentional walk and 2 RBIs, tying him for #1 in California League with 12 RBIs (4/12/2024)
  • 1st-inning home run by C Jordan Dissin (Phillies/High-A) is his first since promotion and leads team to 4-0 win over Rangers affiliate (4/12/2024)
  • It’s a bittersweet day for P Jacob Steinmetz (Diamondbacks/A), the only Orthodox Jew in organized baseball. The 6’6″ righthander goes 5 innings deep in first start of 2024, yielding just 3 hits and one walk on 63 pitches. But two things go wrong. With the score tied 0-0 in top of the 5th inning, Steinmetz makes a fielding error to load the bases, then gives up sacrifice fly. Furthermore, his team is held scoreless. Giants prevail 3-0, and Steinmetz absorbs the loss (4/11/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), batting cleanup, goes 1-for-3 with 2-run HR and walk in 7-3 win over Orioles affiliate. A 2nd-round pick in 2023 draft, Gelof has 10 RBIs in just 22 ABs, ranking him #3 in California League (4/11/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals/AAA) earns first major- or minor-league save since 2017 in 6-3, rain-shortened win over Blue Jays affiliate. It’s not Bleier’s finest performance — he yields solo HR and single in 2-inning stint — but MLB veteran does win Jew vs. Jew faceoff when he retires DH Spencer Horwitz on a groundout (4/11/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 2-for-5 and scores 3 runs in 16-4 shellacking of Braves (4/11/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) records 4th straight game of 2 or more hits, going 3-for-4 with bases-loaded walk, RBI single, and RBI double in 12-11 squeaker over Nationals affiliate. Performance leaves Horwitz among Top 10 Triple-A hitters in multiple categories, including #1 with .568 OBP, #5 with .424 batting average, #5 with 6.7 weighted runs above average, #6 (tied) with weighted runs created, #7 with 2.2 walk/strikeout ratio, and #7 (tied) with 25% walk percentage (4/10/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) defends struggling pitcher David Bednar after All-Star is booed by fans. “This is the pride of Pittsburgh,” a smiling Tellez says in interview, his hand on Bednar’s shoulder. “What happened today is, I think, unacceptable…We just have to be be better” (4/9/2024)
  • LF Hunter Bishop (Giants/AA) goes 3-for-5 with RBI single and stolen base in 6-3 loss to Guardians affiliate. Bishop, a 1st-round pick in 2019 draft, stole 20 of 22 bases in 2022 but was out all 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery (4/10/2024)
  • DH Matt Mervis (Cubs/AA) goes 2-for-4 with double in 4-1 win over Twins affiliate, raising batting average to .361 (13-for-36), OBP to .457, and OPS to 1.040. Two-hit outing comes a day after he goes 4-for-5 with HR and double (4/10/2024)
  • A day after recording first save of 3-year MLB career, P Jake Bird (Rockies) blows one. Entering game in top of 7th inning with Colorado leading Diamondbacks 3-2, Bird gives up one earned run on single and double before retiring side. Arizona goes on to win 5-3 (4/10/2024)
  • CF Kevin Pillar (White Sox) goes 1-for-2 with 2-run double down left-field line in 7-5 win over Guardians (4/9/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA), who was selected by Nationals in 39th round of 2016 draft but didn’t go pro until signing free-agent deal with Cubs in 2020, goes 4-for-5 with solo HR and double in 9-7 win over Twins affiliate. It is second 4-hit game of Mervis’s career (4/9/2024)
  • Pitching for only second time this season, P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) earns save #2 in home opener, a 9-8 win over Red Sox affiliate. Lazar has struck out 5 batters over 2 combined innings and has yet to give up a run, hit or walk (4/9/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA) continues excellent start to 2024 season, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts in 13-4 loss to Guardians affiliate. In 4 games, reliever has yet to give up a run and has held opposing batters to a .105 average and 0.50 WHIP (4/9/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A) goes 2-for-3 with triple, RBI single, sac fly, walk, and 2 RBIs in 6-4 loss to Orioles affiliate (4/9/2024)
  • RF Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA), an undrafted free agent who signed with St. Louis in 2021, goes 3-for-4 with bunt single in 6-2 win over Twins affiliate. Springfield Cardinals are 4-0 this season (4/9/2024)
  • There are 2 outs in 9th inning and bases loaded when P Jake Bird (Rockies) is called to mound. Bird answers call decisively, forcing flyout on second pitch to preserve 7-5 win over Arizona and, perhaps more momentously, to record first career save after blowing all 11 opportunities in 2023. On other side of field, pinch-hitter Joc Pederson grounds out in 8th inning (4/8/2024)
  • P Jared Shuster (White Sox) performs well in first appearance for Chicago, tossing 3 innings of scoreless relief in 9-1 loss to Guardians. Shuster yields 3 hits and no walks while striking out three (4/8/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) drives in first run of game with 1st-inning single. He ends day 3-for-5 with double and one RBI in 10-5 win over Rangers (4/8/2024)
  • CF Dalton Guthrie (Red Sox/AAA) has good day at plate and even better one with glove in 9-0 win over Mets affiliate. In addition to going 1-for-3 with 2 walks and 2 RBIs, Guthrie earns outfield assist in 4th inning after catching fly ball and hurling it to first base for double play (4/8/2024)
  • Call-up! White Sox recall P Jared Shuster from Triple-A. Southpaw made 11 starts for Braves in 2023, his rookie season (4/8/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) is masterful in second start of season, yielding one unearned run on 5 hits, zero walks, and 6 strikeouts over 7 innings. Pirates comes from behind to win 3-2, but Kremer is not hit with the decision (4/7/2024)
  • Great 2-day stretch for 2B Zack Gelof and his Athletics teammates. On April 6, Gelof goes 0-for-1 but scores 3 runs on 3 walks enroute to a 4-0 win over Tigers. Today, a 7-1 win over Detroit, Gelof goes 4-for-5 with RBI triple in 1st inning, 3-run HR in 2nd inning, and leaping grab in 4th inning (4/7/2024)
  • 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), Zack’s younger brother, goes 1-for-4 with 3 RBIs in 14-7 win over Padres affiliate, including bases-loaded walk and 2-run single (4/7/2024)
  • 1B Shawn Goosenberg (White Sox/High-A) goes 3-for-5 with 2-run HR, RBI double, and stolen base in 9-3 win over Astros affiliate (4/6/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA), the Buffalo Bisons’ 2023 MVP, reaches base six times in 10-6 win over Red Sox affiliate. Horwitz, who made MLB debut in 2023, goes 2-for-2 with RBI double, 4 walks, and stolen base (4/6/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA) tosses second straight gem in 2-1 win over Mariners affiliate. Southpaw yields one earned run on 4 hits over 7 innings, striking out 7 and walking none. In 2 starts this season, he is 2-0 with 1.38 ERA, 13 strikeouts, zero walks, and 0.62 WHIP (4/7/2024)
  • 2B Chase Strumpf (Cubs/AAA) goes 3-for-3 with solo HR and RBI double in 9-6 win over Tigers affiliate. His teammate, 1B Matt Mervis, goes 1-for-4 with single and HBP (4/7/2024)
  • DH Hunter Bishop (Giants/AA) goes 2-for-5 with 2-run HR in 13-3 victory over Yankees affiliate (4/6/2024)
  • DH Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks) reaches base 3 times, going 2-for-4 with a walk, but team loses 6-5 to Braves in 10 innings. Pederson is hitting .500 (7-for-14) with a double, RBI, and .632 OBP. He has drawn 5 walks with zero strikeouts (4/5/2024)
  • Interesting 2-day stretch for CF Harrison Bader (Mets). On April 4, Bader’s 8th-inning single breaks up no-hitter, and New York — which until then had gone 13 innings without a hit — goes on to beat Tigers 2-1. On April 5, Bader goes 1-for-3 with walk and a stolen base that produces decisive run in 3-2 win over Reds. But in another notable 8th-inning plate appearance, Bader, facing 0-2 count, earns automatic third strike due to timer violation (4/5/2024)
  • One week after Triple-A season begins, teams in Double-A, High-A, and Single-A make their 2024 debuts. Among the day’s highlights: P Max Lazar (Phillies/AA) strikes out side in 9th inning of 5-2 win over Orioles affiliate to earn save. 2B Noah Mendlinger (Cardinals/AA) goes 2-for-5 in 6-1 win over Mariners affiliate. And 3B Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), younger brother of 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics), goes 1-for-5 with RBI single and sac fly in 11-5 loss to Padres affiliate (4/5/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) reaches base 3 times in 7-4 win over Nationals, going 2-for-4 with 2-run single in 1st inning plus a walk. The 29-year-old is hitting .286 (4-for-14) with a HR, .444 OBP, and .944 OPS (4/4/2024)
  • If you noticed a familiar face in Cleveland’s bullpen this season, you aren’t imagining it. Brad Goldberg, who had a cup of coffee with the White Sox in 2017 and pitched for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, is a new bullpen coach for the Guardians. The 34-year-old is no stranger to Ohio. A suburban Cleveland native, he played and coached at Ohio State U. and spent several years in the Guardians’ farm system as a pitching coach before his most recent promotion. In 2023, Goldberg guided the Akron RubberDucks (AA) to the Eastern League’s second-lowest ERA (4/5/2024)
  • Cubs already have scored 3 runs in 6th inning when reliever Jake Bird (Rockies) takes mound with one out and runners on first and third. He needs just one pitch, a 95.1-mph sinker, to induce double play and end rally. Bird goes on to toss a scoreless 7th inning, but Colorado loses 9-8 (4/3/2024)
  • Two Jewish teammates on Cardinals’ Single-A team are promoted to High-A on same day. P Tanner Jacobson, the first player in Queens U. of Charlotte history to be drafted by an MLB team, went 4-2 with 4.19 ERA in 2023 and averaged 12.41 strikeouts per 9 innings, #6 among all Florida State League pitchers with more than 50 innings thrown. LF Zach Levenson, a 2023 draftee, hit .268 (33-for-123) with 6 HRs, 22 RBIs, .331 OBP, and .811 OPS (4/3/2024)
  • Things continue to look up for LF RJ Schreck, a 2023 draftee who hit .267 (24-for-90) with one HR and 12 RBIs during rookie season with Seattle’s Single-A team. After a surprise call-up to MLB Spring Training that saw him go 3-for-7 with a HR and 3 RBIs, Schreck is promoted to franchise’s High-A team (4/3/2024)
  • P Kenny Rosenberg (Angels/AAA), who made MLB debut in 2023, delivers gem in first starting of season, an 8-2 win over Mariners affiliate. Southpaw yields one earned run on 4 hits over 6 innings while striking out 7 batters and walking zero (4/2/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA), who made MLB debut in 2023, goes 1-for-3 with walk and game-tying double in 8th inning of 5-4 win over Tigers affiliate. Two-bagger strikes outfield wall and lands within inches of home run. Mervis is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, OBP of .444 and 1.015 OPS (4/2/2023)
  • P Dean Kremer makes season debut in start against Royals, yielding 3 earned runs over 5.1 innings on 3 hits (including 2 HRs), one walk, and 5 strikeouts, 3 of which came on cutters. Orioles go on to win 6-4, although Kremer is not credited with victory (4/1/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez makes first HR as a Pirate count. His 3-run blast in 7th inning puts Pittsburgh ahead 7-6, en route to 10-inning, 9-7 win that seals four-game sweep of Marlins in Miami. The 425-foot shot comes on 9th pitch of at-bat and exits at 106.6-mph. “The vibes [in the Pirate clubhosue] are really good,” Tellez tells MLB.com. “I haven’t been here very long, but you can see the difference” (3/31/2024)
  • P Jake Bird (Rockies) bounces back from rough 2024 debut with perfect inning of relief, but Diamondbacks prevail 5-1 (3/31/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof reaches base 4 times in 12-3 loss to Guardians, going 2-for-4 with double, walk, and HBP. He is robbed of triple when ball lodges (just barely) under fence padding and umps call hit a ground-rule double (3/30/2024)
  • P Max Fried (Braves) is knocked out of game in 1st inning of season debut. He faces 7 batters, yielding 3 earned runs on 3 walks, 2 singles, and 2 SBs. Atlanta nevertheless prevails over Phillies, 12-4 (3/30/2024)
  • In other Braves news, P Jared Shuster (AAA), who made MLB debut in 2023, absorbs loss in 10-3 defeat by Cardinals affiliate. He yields 7 earned runs over 4 innings, thanks in part to 4 HRs (3/30/2024)
  • LF Joc Pederson, playing in first game with Diamondbacks, launches regular season with a bang, going 4-for-4 with a double and RBI in 7-3 win over Rockies. One of his singles comes at expense of Colorado reliever Jake Bird, who yields 2 earned runs over 2 innings. In 6 career plate appearances against Bird, Pederson is hitting .500, with a triple and one RBI (3/29/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) puts Astros ahead 1-0 in first inning with RBI single, but Houston succumbs to Yankees 7-1. He finishes 1-for-2 with 2 walks and a stolen base (3/29/2024)
  • 1B Spencer Horwitz (Blue Jays/AAA) belts 2-run HR in first at-bat of season, but team loses 12-9 to Yankees affiliate. Horwitz ends day 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs (3/29/2024)
  • Elsewhere in Triple-A ball, P Richard Bleier (Nationals/AAA) tosses 1.1 scoreless innings in 6-3 loss to Mets affiliate, and 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs/AAA) goes 2-for 5 with RBI in 5-4, extra-inning defeat by Royals affiliate (3/29/2024)
  • It was an inauspicious Opening Day for MLB Jews. The four position players who made it onto the field went a combined 1-for-14. 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) managed the only hit, a single, but also made the final out in Houston’s 5-4 loss to Yankees. Two bright spots: 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) made a nifty play in the field, and Kevin Pillar marked his White Sox debut by serving as club’s Opening Day starter in right field (3/28/2024)
  • At least 28 Jewish players attended major-league Spring Training, which ended March 26. If you’re interested in how they did, check out our highlights (3/29/2024)
  • Ten Jewish players made it onto the Opening Day roster of an MLB team (see list below). Players with MLB experience who didn’t make the cut are P Richard Bleier (WAS), injured P Scott Effross (NYY), 1B Spencer Horwitz (TOR), 1B Matt Mervis (CHC), P Kenny Rosenberg (LAA), and injured Twins P Zack Weiss (3/28/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals) couldn’t have done much better this Spring. In 10 appearances totaling 10.2 innings, veteran went 1-1 with 2 holds, 1.69 ERA, top-notch 0.75 WHIP, 9 strikeouts and zero walks. But Nats send him to Triple-A anyway, and Bleier agrees to go, despite option to opt-out of contract (3/27)/2024)
  • It’s Opening Day! As per usual, many MLB teams have not yet released their 26-man rosters. When all 30 rosters are released, we will post a list of here of the Jewish players on them (3/28/2024)
  • It’s been a pinch-yourself Spring for LF RJ Schreck, a Mariners prospect who was drafted in 2023 and spent season in Single-A ball. Called up to Seattle’s MLB camp on March 14, the 23-year-old seized the surprising opportunity. In team’s final game, Schreck goes 2-for-3 with game-tying RBI to help Seattle edge Padres 7-6. He ends Spring with total of 3 hits in 7 ABs, a HR, and 3 RBIs (3/26/2024)
  • According to The Forward, Red Sox organist Josh Kantor has not missed a Fenway Park game in 21 years, a streak stretching to 1,698 games. Kantor, who is Jewish, doesn’t just play the Seventh Inning Stretch. He accepts in-game requests via Twitter and has a side gig playing in rock bands (3/25/2024)
  • Several years after giving Jewish Baseball News permission to list him, P Eli Morgan (Guardians) recently told Cleveland officials he does not identify as Jewish. Thus, we have removed him from our roster. We wish Eli all the best (3/26/2024)
  • Jewish Baseball News welcomes the latest additions to our D-1 college roster. Caden Pearlman is a 6’3″ freshman pitcher at Cal-Poly in San Luis Obispo. Graham Biben is a 6’0″ freshman pitcher at Cornell, where brother August Biben also played (3/25/2024)
  • Mazel Tov to OF Kevin Pillar, who signs a one-year MLB contract with White Sox as team’s fourth outfielder — and might be in starting lineup on Opening Day. Signing ends a mind-boggling 48 hours that began when Chicago released the 11-year veteran. “There’s a lot of things I’ve been through in this game, and that was not one of them,” Pillar tells MLB.com (3/24/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) earns third straight multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with 2 HRs, a double, and 6 RBIs in 13-5 win over Mets. On other side of field, CF Harrison Bader (Mets) goes 0-for-1 with a walk (3/23/2024)
  • Shame on Jewish Baseball News for missing this one: P Max Lazar, a 6’1″ right-hander who finished 2023 on Brewers’ AA squad, signed minor-league, free-agent deal with Phillies in December and was called up to team’s MLB Spring Training on March 3. Since then, Lazar has made 7 appearances, maintaining 0.00 ERA over combined 5.2 innings, striking out 7, and earning 2 saves in 2 chances, including one today (3/24/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners), a Single-A prospect, goes 1-for-4 with 2-run, game-tying blast in 9-9 tie against Cubs. Homer comes in fourth MLB Spring Training at-bat (3/24/2024)
  • P Jake Bird (Rockies) tosses perfect inning of relief in 6-2 loss to Reds, lowering ERA to 3.38 and WHIP to 1.00 (3/23/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals) accomplishes rare feat in 13-4 win over Cardinals. Entering game in 8th inning, Bleier retires side on minimum-possible 3 pitches, inducing 2 groundouts and one flyout. In MLB-leading 10 appearances this spring, Bleier is 1-1 with 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 9 strikeouts, and zero walks over combined 10.2 innings (3/20/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) goes 2-for-4 in rare tie game, a 3-3 draw against Marlins. In last 6 games, Bregman has hit .474 (9-for-19) with 2 doubles, 2 walks, and 2 RBIs (3/19/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer (Orioles) yields one earned run and strikes out 5 over 3.2 innings to earn win in 13-4 victory over Phillies, making him one of only nine MLB pitchers with 3 or more wins this Spring. On other side of field, C Garrett Stubbs goes 0-for-1 with 2 walks. In only face-off between the two men, Stubbs draws walk on 4 pitches (3/20/2024)
  • A new not-for-profit organization, Israel Baseball Americas, is launched to promote baseball among Jewish youth in North America and Latin America — and to create a pipeline of players for Team Israel. Programming will include youth camps, travel teams, high-school showcases, and adult fantasy camps (3/18/2024)
  • 1B Rowdy Tellez (Pirates) rebounds from meager Spring, going 2-for-4 with 3-run, 418-foot HR in 11-2 win over Phillies. It is his first home run as a Pirate (3/18/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) plays backup, but the popular player is outplaying starting catcher J.T. Realmuto this Spring, hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a .455 OBP and .876 OPS, versus .286/.310/.739 for Realmuto. But both men need to watch out for veteran backstop Aramas Garcia, who is hitting .449 (11-for-25) with a HR, 5 doubles, 7 RBIs, .517 OBP, and 1.277 OPS (3/18/2024)
  • C CJ Stubbs (Astros/AA), younger brother of Phillies C Garrett Stubbs, earns first hit in nine MLB Spring Training at-bats. A defensive replacement who enters game in 8th inning, the 27-year-old singles off P Dylan Floro, but Astros succumb to Nationals 10-1. Teammate Alex Bregman goes 0-for-1 with 2 walks (3/18/2024)
  • CF Harrison Bader (Mets), batting 9th in lineup, goes 2-for-3 with game-tying solo HR and a double in 7-6 win over Marlins. It is his secon dstraight 2-for-3 game (3/17/2024)
  • For the second consecutive appearance, Reds prospect Evan Kravetz strikes out the two batters he faces with the minimum-possible 3 pitches apiece. He thus has struck out 4 consecutive batters on a grand total of 12 pitches, a rare feat. This is the 6’8″ southpaw’s first MLB Spring Training (3/17/2024)
  • Four Jewish players makes MLB.com’s list of Top 300 Fantasy Draft picks. P Max Fried (Braves) leads with a #50 ranking, followed by 3B Alex Bregman (Astros), 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) and OF Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks)
  • Despite hitting .281 with .410 OBP this Spring, 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs) is optioned to Triple-A. First basemen are expected to produce power, and Mervis had only one extra-base hit and 2 RBIs in 39 plate appearances (3/17/2024)
  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) has lifted batting average from .067 to .323 since March 7. In most recent game, a 5-3 win over Phillies, veteran goes 3-for-4 with double and RBI single (3/15/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier is tied for #1 among all MLB pitchers this Spring with 8 appearances. In most recent game, a 5-3 win over Astros, he tosses 0.2 scoreless innings to earn 4th hold (3/14/2024)
  • P Dean Kremer fans 3 batters in 7-2 loss to Rays, yielding one earned run on 2 hits and a walk (3/15/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA), a 6’8″ southpaw playing in his first MLB camp, improves his record to 2-0 in 19-11 win over Giants. Kravetz needs the bare-mininum 6 pitches to strike out the two batters he faces. Non-roster invitee is perfect in a combined 2 innings over 3 appearances this Spring (3/13/2024)
  • LF RJ Schreck (Mariners/A), a 9th-round pick out of Vanderbilt U. in the 2023 draft, makes MLB Spring debut in 4-2 win over Brewers. After entering game as a defensive substitute in 6th inning, Schreck records 3 outs in left field and grounds out on first and only pitch he sees (3/14/2024)
  • OF Kevin Pillar (White Sox), who signed minor-league deal with Chicago in February, goes 2-for-3 with 2-for-3 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs in 15-4 drubbing of Brewers (3/13/2024)
  • 1B Matt Mervis (Cubs) goes 1-for-2 in 8-3 win over Guardians. Prospect is 4-for-7 in his last 5 appearances, lifting his batting average from .188 to .304. Thanks to 6 walks against 5 strikeouts this Spring, he is sporting a .448 OBP (3/13/2024)
  • P Richard Bleier (Nationals), who signed minor-league deal with Washington in February, tosses perfect inning of relief and strikes out one to earn hold in 2-1 win over Marlins. In 7 appearances this Spring, veteran has held opponents scoreless 6 times, posted 2.35 ERA, earned 3 holds, and struck out 7 while walking zero (3/13/2024)
  • Jewish Baseball News welcomes C Josh Janove, a sophomore catcher at Towson U., to our roster of D-1 college players (3/13/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) continues to come up big in Spring Training, going 2-for-3 with 2-run, go-ahead HR that propels Oakland to 4-2 win over Mariners. Gelof now leads Majors with 1.312 OPS, is tied for #2 with 4 HRs, and ranks #4 with .412 batting average. Check out Gelof’s MLB Tonight interview here (3/12/2024)
  • Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) goes 2-for-2 with ground-rule double, walk, and one RBI in 9-7 win over Pirates. Backup catcher is hitting .429 with .529 OBP and 1.029 OPS (3/10/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) ranks #3 among all A.L. batters in OPS, at 1.030 (3/10/2024)
  • P Evan Kravetz (Reds/AAA), a 6’8″ prospect playing in his first major-league Spring Training, has been perfect in 2 relief appearances, yielding no walks or hits over a combined 1.1 innings and earning the win in a one-pitch performance on March 4 (3/10/2024)
  • C Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) and brother CJ Stubbs (Astros/AA) play on same diamond for first time as pros. When Garrett comes to home plate in 6th-inning for only at-bat of game, he hugs catcher CJ and then singles on first pitch. In 9th inning, CJ bats for only time in game and flies out on first pitch. Their parents are watching from the stands (3/8/2024)
  • LF Joc Pederson (Diamondbacks), who signed one-year contract with Arizona in January, goes 2-for-3 with 2-run, first-pitch HR and 3 RBIs in 7-5 win over Cubs (3/8/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) is off to a hot start at spring training. The second-year Major Leaguer is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with 2 HRs, 3 doubles, 3 walks, and a team-leading 1.268 OPS (3/7/2024)
  • Richard Bleier (Nationals) and Jake Bird (Rockies) both are enjoying strong spring performances. Bleier, who signed a minor-league contract with the Nats in February, has been near-perfect in 4 appearances, yielding just one hit and no walks while striking out 4 batters over a combined 4 innings. Bird has nearly identical numbers, except for yielding 2 hits and striking out 3 (3/7/2024)
  • SS/2B Justin Rubin, a college junior who transferred to Pepperdine U. after two years at U. of Virginia, is hitting .452 (14-for-31), ranking him #57 among all D1 players (3/5/2024)
  • Jewish Baseball News offers a warm welcome to two new arrivals on our list of D-1 players (3/5/2024)
    • P Zach Mizrahi, a junior transfer at Penn State U. Mizrahi previously played at Tallahassee Community College and Daytona State College
    • P Jacob Fried, a senior pitcher at Loyola Marymount U.
  • P Harrison Cohen (Yankees/AA), an undrafted signee who made his pro debut in 2023 and ended the season in Double-A, made his MLB Spring Training debut on March 1, and it was a memorable one. Cohen, relieving 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, entered the game with 2 outs in the bottom of the 3rd inning, 2 runs already in, a man on third, and Blue Jays CF Nathan Lukes facing a 1-2 count. Cohen tossed one pitch, a 94.8-mph fastball, to retire the side (3/1/2024)
  • A total of 22 Jews are at an MLB Spring Training camp this season, including 10 pitchers and 12 position players. For more details, see our article (2/28/2024)
  • 2B Zack Gelof (Athletics) plays against brother Jake Gelof (Dodgers/A), a 2023 draftee and third baseman experiencing major-league Spring Training for the first time. “I can’t remember the last time I played against him,” Zack says after the game. “Maybe like practicing against each other. But we’ve always been on the same team or different age groups, so this is pretty cool” (2/25/2024)
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