Jeremy Bleich

Jeremy Bleich
Oakland Athletics
Pitcher
Born: (1987-06-18) June 18, 1987
Metairie, Louisiana
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 13, 2018, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
(through July 20, 2018)
Win–loss record 0–0
Earned run average 54.00
Strikeouts 1
Teams

Jeremy Bleich (born June 18, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Oakland Athletics organization of Major League Baseball (MLB).

In high school, Bleich was named a 2005 first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball (Louisville Slugger), a third-team All American by Baseball America, and was twice named All-State in Louisiana. He was profiled by author Michael Lewis in his short book Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life, published in 2005. He was named a Cape Cod Baseball League All Star in 2006.

Bleich was selected in the First Round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft (44th overall) by the New York Yankees, out of Stanford University. He was named a Hawaii Winter Baseball post-season All Star in 2008, had surgery to repair a torn glenoid labrum in his throwing shoulder in 2010, and was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week on May 26, 2014. Bleich pitched for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier, and for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Early and personal life

Bleich was born in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb 15 minutes west of New Orleans, to Stan (a cardiologist and Chair of the board of cardiology at East Jefferson General Hospital, who grew up in Brooklyn) and Caron Bleich.[1][2][3][4] Bleich is Jewish, and a member of Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation.[5] His grandparents George and Yolanda Bleich from Czechoslovakia were Auschwitz concentration camp Holocaust survivors.[6][7][8] He has a sister (Dr. Lauren Feldman), and a brother (Dr. Steven Bleich).[5][4] Remarking on how his father and siblings are all doctors, Bleich noted: "I always tell people I'm the black sheep of the family."[9]

High school

He attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, graduating in 2005.[5] As a sophomore Bleich was 9–3, striking out 100 batters in 71.0 innings while batting .318.[5] As a junior, he was 7–3 with a 1.25 ERA, and 110 strikeouts in 72.2 innings, while also batting .464.[5] As a senior, he was 7–1 with an 0.56 ERA, and 138 strikeouts in 63.0 innings, while batting .387.[5] In high school by his junior year he had what author Michael Lewis described as "a decent fastball, great command, a big-league change-up and charm to burn", and had over 40 colleges recruiting him.[3]

Bleich was named a 2005 first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball (Louisville Slugger), a third-team All American by Baseball America, and the 2005 All-Metro Player of the Year.[5] He was named All-State in Louisiana twice, was the 2004 and 2005 District Most Valuable Player, and in 2003–05 was named a three-time All-District, All-Metro, and All-Orleans teams player.[5] As a pitcher at Isidore Newman, he was profiled by author Michael Lewis in his short book Coach: Lessons on the Game of Life, published in 2005.

He played in the 2004 WWBA World Championships with the Cincinnati Reds scout team, and in the 2005 High School All-American Game, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[5] He was rated the 97th-best prospect in the nation in 2005.[10]

College

Bleich then attended Stanford University, majoring in Economics.[11][5] As a freshman in 2006, throwing an 88–92 mph fastball, a breaking ball, and a changeup, he tied for fourth in the Pac-10 with seven saves.[5][2] He was named a Cape Cod Baseball League All Star in 2006, pitching for the Wareham Gatemen.[12] Baseball America named him the 19th-best player in the league.[10]

As a sophomore in 2007, he was 10th in the Pac-10 in starts (16) and innings pitched (98.2).[5] As a junior in 2008 during which he missed two months with tendinitis in his elbow, he was 3–3 record with one save and a 2.09 ERA, leading the team in ERA, and earned honorable mention Pac-10 All-Academic honors.[12][5]

Professional career

New York Yankees organization (2008–2014)

Bleich was selected in the First Round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft (44th overall) by the New York Yankees out of Stanford, and received a $700,000 signing bonus.[12][13][14] Baseball America named him the Yankees' ninth-best prospect for 2010.[15] He was named a Hawaii Winter Baseball post-season All Star in 2008, pitching for the Waikiki BeachBoys, for whom he was 3–1 with a 1.77 ERA (2nd in the league among starters) in 7 starts.[12][16][14][10] He then pitched in one game that season for the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A- New York-Penn League.[16] In 2009, he pitched for the Tampa Yankees of the Class A+ Florida State League, and for the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League, starting 27 games.[16]

Bleich had surgery to repair a torn glenoid labrum in his throwing shoulder, after starting 8 games for Trenton in 2010. He then missed part of the 2010 season, and all of the 2011 season.[12][17]

In 2012, he was 2–1 with a 2.76 ERA as he pitched in 16 games for the GCL Yankees of the Rookie Gulf Coast League, the Staten Island Yankees, and the Tampa Yankees.[16] He was named the 2012 Minor League Comeback Player of the Year by Jewish Baseball News.[12] In 2013, he was again 2–1 with a 2.76 ERA, this time for Trenton in 27 games, 4 of them starts.[16]

Bleich began the 2014 season pitching for Trenton, for whom he started 15 games, and was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week on May 26, 2014.[12][16] He was promoted to Triple-A for the first time later that season, and pitched for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the International League.[18]

Minor leagues (2015–2017)

Bleich signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 18, 2014.[19] In 2015, he pitched in one game for the Bradenton Marauders of the Class A+ Florida State League, made 25 relief appearances and had 4 saves for the Altoona Curve of the Class AA Eastern League, and had a 2.60 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the Indianapolis Indians of the Class AAA International League.[20]

In January 2016, Bleich signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.[21][12] That season he pitched for the Reading Fightin Phils in the Class AA Eastern League, and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the Class AAA International League.[16] In July 2016, he signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, and went 2–2 with a 2.45 ERA in 17 relief appearances.[20][16] In 22 innings, Bleich struck out 28 batters and gave up 3 walks.[22]

In February 2017, Bleich signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[22][23] Bleich was released on the last day of spring training by the Diamondbacks.[24] Bleich was signed again by the Somerset Patriots in April 2017.[24] He pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, over 2 games.

On April 29, 2017, Bleich signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to Oklahoma City of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[25] Mid-season, his fastball was up to 95 mph, complemented by his curveball, changeup, and slider, and Oklahoma City pitching coach Matt Herges observed: "He's a strike machine, and he's fearless."[26] He pitched in 31 games for Oklahoma City (for whom he was 5–3 with a 3.22 ERA, allowing opponents a .261 average — .228 by right-handers — as his fastball was in the mid-90s) and seven for the Class Double-A Tulsa Drillers while in the Dodgers system, and had a combined 5–4 record with 3 saves and a 3.77 ERA.[27][28][8] On November 6, he elected to be a free agent.[29][30]

Oakland Athletics (2018)

In January 2018, Bleich signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics and was invited to Major League spring training.[31] A's general manager David Forst said, "Jeremy proved with his performance last year that he can pitch at this level."[8] He began 2018 pitching for the AAA Nashville Sounds.[32]

Bleich's contract was purchased from AAA Nashville on July 13, 2018.[33] He made his major league debut that night against the San Francisco Giants. He was designated for assignment on August 6.[34]

International team experience

Bleich was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team in 2005, as it placed second at the 2005 Pan American Championships in Mexico.[12][5]

Bleich pitched for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier, in September 2016.[35] Bleich first pitched during the second game of the series, throwing 23 pitches over 1.2 innings, giving up 2 hits while recording 3 strikeouts.[36] Bleich again pitched during the third and final game of the series, throwing 13 pitches over .2 of an inning, giving up 2 hits, an unearned run, and a walk.[37]

Bleich pitched for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic main tournament, in March 2017.[38][39][40] He appeared in three games, and struck out two batters in 2.1 innings.[41] Bleich said: "It was an unbelievable experience.... Those guys will forever be like family. We battled together in a tough environment and we succeeded."[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Stats: Jeremy Bleich", Baseball America
  2. 1 2 Elizabeth Aguilar, "Jeremy Bleich: Finding Calm after the Storm," The Stanford Daily, June 16, 2006
  3. 1 2 Michael Lewis, "Coach Fitz's Management Theory," The New York Times, March 28, 2004
  4. 1 2 "Dr. Stanley Bleich dies, will be buried in Boston," Crescent City Jewish News, October 21, 2014
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Player Bio: Jeremy Bleich", GoStanford.com
  6. ↑ Michael J. Ashmore, "Patriots reliever looks to honor grandparents," mycentraljersey.com, August 27, 2016
  7. ↑ Jon Marks (January 13, 2017). "Left-hander Jeremy Bleich Hoping to Lead Israel in World Baseball Classic," Jewish Exponent.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Ex-Stanford lefty Jeremy Bleich in A's camp, inspired by grandparents".
  9. ↑ Jacob Unruh (August 11, 2017). "OKC Dodgers: Jeremy Bleich has become team's unsung hero," NewsOK.
  10. 1 2 3 Mike Axisa, "Prospect Profile: Jeremy Bleich," River Avenue Blues, November 19, 2008
  11. ↑ "Making it to the majors; Pro baseball's next generation of Jewish players". The Jewish Standard. October 28, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Jeremy Bleich Stats, Highlights, Bio," MiLB.com Stats
  13. ↑ "Jeremy Bleich Taken 44th Overall by the New York Yankees". Stanford University. June 5, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Jeremy Bleich, P, Pittsburgh Pirates", kffl.com
  15. ↑ Manuel, John (December 16, 2009). "Organization Top 10 Prospects, 2010: New York Yankees". Baseball America. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Jeremy Bleich Register Statistics & History," Baseball-Reference.com
  17. ↑ Waggoner, Jim (July 7, 2012). "Bleich starts climbing again with Staten Island Yankees". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ Morlock, Ed (June 11, 2014). "Thunder starter Jeremy Bleich gets call to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre". The Trentonian. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  19. ↑ Brink, Bill (November 18, 2014). "Pirates sign 10, including former first-round pick, to minor league contract". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Somerset Patriots Add LHP Jeremy Bleich," PatriotsBaseball.com, July 28, 2016
  21. ↑ "Phillies' Jeremy Bleich: Signs a minor league deal with the Phillies". CBS Sports. February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  22. 1 2 Ashmore, Mike (February 17, 2017). "Bleich Signs With Diamondbacks". myCentralJersey.com.
  23. ↑ Staff, RotoWire (February 20, 2017). "Diamondbacks' Jeremy Bleich: Joins Diamondbacks on minors deal". CBSSports.com.
  24. 1 2 Mike Ashmore (April 17, 2017). Somerset Patriots bring back Jeremy Bleich despite surplus
  25. ↑ Ashmore, Mike (April 29, 2017). "Bleich Signed By Dodgers, Heads To Triple-A". myCentralJersey.com. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  26. ↑ Darrell Williams. "He's seen it all: Newman grad Jeremy Bleich gaining momentum in Triple-A with Oklahoma City," The New Orleans Advocate.
  27. ↑ "Athletics Sign Former Patriots Southpaw Bleich".
  28. ↑ "Jeremy Bleich Winter, Minor & Independent League Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Jeremy Bleich Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  30. ↑ "Somerset Patriots Year In Review: Jeremy Bleich".
  31. ↑ "Athletics Sign Former Patriots Southpaw Bleich – Somerset Patriots Pulse".
  32. ↑ Sounds set opening day rmark for runs scored | Nashville Post
  33. ↑ "Athletics' Jeremy Bleich: Called up Friday". CBS Sports. July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  34. ↑ "A's Acquire RHP Mike Fiers from Detroit". Oakland Athletics. MLB.com. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  35. ↑ Vince Lara-Cinisomo, "Rosters for WBC Qualifier in Brooklyn: Israel, Pakistan, Great Britain, Brazil," Baseball America, September 22, 2016
  36. ↑ "Israel 1, Brazil 0, September 23, 2016", mlb.com
  37. ↑ "Israel 9, Great Britain 1, September 25, 2016" mlb.com
  38. ↑ Aron Heller (January 11, 2017). "Israel taps Jewish major-leaguers for World Baseball Classic," The Toronto Star.
  39. ↑ Hillel Kuttler (January 11, 2017). "For these pro-baseball players, visiting Israel is like coming home," The Times of Israel.
  40. ↑ "Former Newman pitcher Jeremy Bleich pitches in Team Israel’s first win in WBC," SportsNOLA.
  41. ↑ Mike Ashmore (April 10, 2017). "Bleich, Kubiak Added To Already Stacked Somerset Staff"
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