The Jewish Boys of Summer take the field

With the 2019 baseball season hitting the midway point, the Ledger takes its annual look at how the Jewish boys of summer are faring on the field this year. (Statistics are as of July 9, 2019)

By Suzy Iarusso

Richard Bleir
Baltimore Orioles

Born: April 16, 1987
Birthplace: Davie, FL
Position: Pitcher
Number: 48
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Season ERA: 6.83
Season SO: 11
Season Record: 1-0
Career SO: 65
Career Record: 6-1
Experience: 4 years 

Bleier signed a one-year contract with the Orioles in March. He was placed on the 10-day DL early in the 2019 season with left shoulder tendinitis, the same shoulder he had surgically repaired last season. He continues to be a relief pitcher for the Orioles. 

Ryan Joseph Braun
Milwaukee Brewers

Born: November 17, 1983
Birthplace: Mission Hills, CA
Position: Left field
Number: 8
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .271
Season HR: 12
Season RBI: 42
Career Avg: .297
Career HR: 334
Career RBI: 1095
Experience: 13 years

At the end of the 2018 season, Braun was also ranked first on the Brewers’ all-time list in career home runs, second in RBIs, and third in runs scored, doubles, triples, stolen bases, and slugging percentage. During the 2018 National League Division Series he became the Brewers’ all-time post season hits leader. On April 6, 2019, Braun scored his 1,000th career run. Of the nine active major league players with 1,000 runs scored, he is the only one to have scored them all for one team.

Alex Bregman
Houston Astros

Born: March 30, 1994
Birthplace: Albuquerque, NM
Position: Third base
Number: 2
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .267
Season HR: 24
Season RBI: 58
Career Avg: .279
Career HR: 82
Career RBI: 266
Experience: 4 year

Bregman finished the 2018 season leading the American League in doubles. In March 2019 he signed a six-year, $100 million contract with the Houston Astros, the second highest contract in Astros history. He was elected to his second consecutive All-Star game in July and competed in the Home Run Derby.  

Max Fried
Atlanta Braves

Born: January 18, 1994
Birthplace: Santa Monica, CA
Position: Pitcher
Number: 54
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Season ERA: 4.29
Season SO: 97
Season Record: 9-4
Career ERA: 3.92
Career SO: 163
Career Record: 11-9
Experience: 3 years

This season he has made the transition from a relief pitcher to a starting pitcher for the Braves. 

Ian Michael Kinsler
San Diego Padres

Born: June 22, 1982
Birthplace: Tucson, AZ
Position: Second base
Number: 3
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .217
Season HR: 8
Season RBI: 19
Career AVG: .269
Career HR: 256
Career RBI: 906
Experience: 13 years

On July 31, 2018 Kinsler was traded from the Los Angeles Angels to the Boston Red Sox. He won his first World Series Championship and second Gold Glove at second base while with the Red Sox. After the season he became a free agent and signed a two-year contract with the Padres. 

Joc Russell Pederson
Los Angeles Dodgers

Born: April 21, 1992
Birthplace: Palo Alto, CA
Position: Left field
Number: 31
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Season Avg: .238
Season HR: 20
Season RBI: 42
Career Avg: .230
Career HR: 107
Career RBI: 255
Experience: 5 years

Pederson agreed to a one-year contract with the Dodgers before the 2019 season. He hit his 100th career home run in May 2019. He competed in the 2019 Home Run Derby. 

Kevin Pillar
San Francisco Giants

Born: January 4, 1989
Birthplace: West Hills, CA
Position: Center field
Number: 1
Bats:  Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .246
Season HR: 12
Season RBI:  49
Career Average: .259
Career HR: 67
Career RBI: 279
Experience: 7 years

Pillar ended the 2018 season leading the Blue Jays in batting average, doubles, and stolen bases. In January 2019, he signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays but then on April 2, 2019, Pillar was traded to the Giants. 

Robert Stock
San Diego Padres

Born: November 21, 1989
Birthplace: Bellevue, WA
Position: Pitcher
Number: 66
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Season ERA: 10.13
Season SO: 15
Season Record: 1-0
Career ERA: 4.11
Career SO: 53
Career Record: 2-1
Experience: 2 Years

Stock was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009 as a catcher. In 2012, he transitioned back to pitching, a position he also played in high school. He made his major league debut on June 24, 2018 and made 32 relief appearances throughout the season. He regularly throws a 100-mph fastball. 

Garrett Stubbs
Houston Astros

Born: May 26, 1993
Birthplace: San Diego, CA
Position: Catcher
Number: 11
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Season Average: .160
Season HR: 0
Season RBI: 2
Career Average: .160
Career HR: 0
Career RBI: 2
Experience: 1 year

Stubbs was drafted by the Astros in 2015. He made his major league debut on May 28, 2019. His younger brother was also drafted by the Astros this year. 

Rowdy Tellez
Toronto Blue Jays

Born: March 16, 1995
Birthplace: Sacramento, CA
Position: First base
Number: 44
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Season Average: .227
Season HR: 14
Season RBI: 40
Career Average: .246
Career HR: 18
Career RBI: 54

Experience: 2 Years

Tellez was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013. He made his major league debut on September 9, 2018. He hit the first major league pitch ever thrown to him for a double. He was the first player since 1913 to hit seven doubles in his first seven major league games. In 2019, he made the opening day roster of the Blue Jays.  

AAA
Jake Kalish – Kansas City Royals
Ty Kelly – Los Angeles Angels
Ryan Lavarnway – New York Yankees
Jon Moscot – Cincinnati Reds
Ryan Sherriff – Tampa Bay Rays

AA
Scotty Burcham – Yard Goats
Zack Weiss – Minnesota Twins

A
Jeremy Bleich – Boston Red Sox
Andy Yerzy – Arizona Diamondbacks

Side Notes:

Craig Breslow was hired by the Chicago Cubs as Director of Strategic Initiatives for Baseball Operations in January 2019. 

Cody Decker retired from his playing career in July 2019. 

Danny Valencia was released by the Baltimore Orioles in August 2018. 

In 2018, Alex Bregman became the first Jewish player to win the Most Valuable Player award in his first All-Star game.