THE
JEWISH LIGHT
Baseball is Back: Alex Bregman and Max Fried Top the List of 8 Jewish Players in the Majors
Sports
outstanding in the shortened 2020 .242 batting average was by far a season, going 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA, career low. He’s aiming for a return finishing fifth in the Cy Young vot- to his 2019 numbers, when he hit ing. He won 17 games in 2019 — .296 with 41 homers and 112 runs his only full season in the majors batted in on the way to a second— and sports a 26-11 record in his place finish in the MVP voting. By Rob Charry budding career. Bregman, who heads into the Some may be thinking Fried season with 105 career homers, could become the winningest Jew- would appear to have a good chance ish pitcher ever: Ken Holtzman has to become the all-time Jewish home that honor with 174 career wins, run leader when all is said and followed by Hall of Famer Sandy done. (Braun leads now at 352.) In Koufax at 165. The latter picked up his three full seasons from 2017 to an astounding 107 of those victo- 2019, he has averaged 30 homers a ries in his final four seasons before year. his career was cut short by an The Astros and Bregman had elbow injury. Fried, who was born been quite a success story from and raised in California, wore No. 2017 to 2019 with two World Series 32 in high school as a tribute to the appearances, including a world Dodger great. championship in 2017. They Alex Bregman appeared to be an engaging, funHouston Astros loving, multicultural group, with Some Jewish major leaguers are poised for breakout seasons in 2021. Bregman, the Houston Astros Bregman a rising young star. But (Getty Images; photo collage by Grace Yagel/70 Faces Media) third baseman, is certainly the most the team was implicated in an intri(JTA) — Alex Bregman is hop- will be on rosters and representing heralded Jewish position player ing to return to his near MVP form, the Jews, including some who have again this season. The 27-year-old See BASEBALL 20 Max Fried will be doing something played for Team Israel in the World All-Star struggled in 2020 — his on Page no Jewish ballplayer has done in Baseball Classic, as we begin anew four decades and World Series win- following the 60-game COVIDner Joc Pederson is wearing a new abbreviated campaign. jersey as the 2021 Major League Max Fried Baseball season gets underway Atlanta Braves Thursday. For the first time in 40 years, a That trio is among eight Jewish Jewish pitcher will be an Opening players who will don uniforms on Day starter, as Fried takes the Opening Day. As the game returns, mound in Philadelphia on Thursday so will some of the in-person fans: afternoon against the Phillies. The As of Wednesday, all 30 teams will last Jew to accomplish that feat: allow some percentage of atten- Steve Stone, for the 1981 Baltimore dance, ranging from a few thousand Orioles. seats to full capacity in the case of “I definitely think it’s an honor to the Texas Rangers’ stadium in be able to have my manager come Alex Bregman bats during Game 7 of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Arlington. out and say we want you to start the the Houston Astros at Petco Park in San Diego, Oct. 17, 2020. (Alex Trautwig/MLB One familiar Jewish face will be first game,” the lefty ace said folPhotos via Getty Images) missing, though — former Most lowing his final spring training start Valuable Player Ryan Braun, on Saturday. doesn’t have a team after accepting The Braves are expected to be a buyout from the Milwaukee serious contenders again in the Brewers in the offseason. National League, with Fried anchorBut let’s deal with the guys who ing the pitching staff. Fried, 27, was Best Wishes to my friends
in the Jewish Community!
Nathalie Dubois
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Max Fried delivers a pitch in a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays, March 21, 2021. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) THE
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