Zach Borenstein

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Zach Borenstein
Arizona Diamondbacks
Outfielder
Born: (1990-07-23) July 23, 1990 (age 33)
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Zachary (Zach) Jordan Borenstein (born July 23, 1990) is an American professional left-handed-hitting baseball outfielder in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.[1]

Borenstein attended Buffalo Grove High School in Illinois, where his .524 batting average as a senior was the best in the conference, and he was a Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times All-State honoree. He then attended Eastern Illinois University, where as a freshman in 2009 he had a .503 on base percentage, the best in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), and in 2011 he was an OVC First Team Selection.

Borenstein was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 23rd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. In 2013, playing for the Inland Empire 66ers of the Class A+ California League, he hit .337/.403/.631 with 28 home runs and 95 RBIs, leading the league in batting average (5th among all minor leaguers), home runs, and slugging percentage (2nd among all minor leaguers), was 2nd among all minor leaguers in OPS (1.034), and was second in the league in runs batted in. He was named the California League MVP, the Angels' 2013 Minor League Player of the Year, a California League mid-season All Star, a post-season All Star, a Topps Class A All Star, an MILB.com Organization All Star, and Topps Cal Player of the Year.

In July 2014, Borenstein was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played most of 2015 for the Mobile BayBears of the AA Southern League, batting .314/.394/.511, and was a Southern League mid-season All Star. Borenstein was the starting right fielder for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier and main tournament.

Early life

He was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the son of David (an attorney) and Nancy Borenstein.[2][3] His grandparents are June and Joseph Borenstein, and William and Ruth Rosenberg.[4] He is Jewish, and attended Hebrew school and had a bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth-Am in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.[5][6]

His older brother Josh used to write a blog entitled "Jews in Baseball," and is now a screenwriter.[7][6] Borenstein's younger sister, Katie, died at age 20 from a blood clot in her pulmonary artery on January 25, 2014.[8] Borenstein has a tattoo on his arm of a song lyric about her.[6]

High school

Borenstein attended Buffalo Grove High School in Illinois, where he played shortstop and set new career school records with a .498 batting average and .970 slugging percentage, and ranked in the top three in school history in home runs, doubles, hits, runs, RBIs and stolen bases.[9][10] His .524 batting average as a senior was the best in the Mid-Suburban League.[11][12] He was a Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times All-State honoree as a senior.[9] He was also a two-time all-area and all-conference player of the year.[11]

College

For college, Borenstein attended Eastern Illinois University, where he majored in Kinesiology and Sports Studies.[2] As a freshman playing for the Eastern Illinois Panthers in 2009 he had a .503 on base percentage, the best in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and the 20th-best OBP in the nation, while batting .394.[11] He was an 2009 OVC All-Freshman Team Selection and a 2009 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.[11] In 2010 as a sophomore he batted .353, playing third base primarily.[13] In 2011 he was an OVC First Team Selection after batting .349, playing in the outfield primarily.[11][13] His career .450 OBP was 5th-best in school history, and his .362 batting average was 6th-best.[14]

Minor leagues

Borenstein was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 23rd round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eastern Illinois University after his junior year.[15][13] He made his professional debut at the age of 20 with the AZL Angels of the Rookie Arizona League, hitting .274/.397/.451 with two home runs in 113 at bats over 31 games, with 12 steals in 13 attempts.[16] In 2012 he played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Class A Midwest League.[16] He hit .266/.339/.485 with 11 home runs in 293 at bats in 79 games.[16]

In 2013 he played for the Inland Empire 66ers of the Class A+ California League, hitting .337/.403/.631 with 28 home runs and 95 RBIs over 407 at bats in 112 games.[17] He led the league in batting average (5th among all minor leaguers), home runs, and slugging percentage (2nd among all minor leaguers), was 2nd among all minor leaguers in OPS (1.034), and was second in the league in runs batted in.[1] He was named the California League MVP.[18][3] He was also named the Angels' 2013 Minor League Player of the Year, was a CAL mid-season All Star, was a post-season All Star, was a Topps Class A All Star, was an MILB.com Organization All Star, was Topps Cal Player of the Year, and was CAL Player of the Week on July 29, 2013.[1]

In 2014, he was invited to spring training by the Angels.[19] On July 5, 2014, Borenstein was traded with fellow prospect Joey Krehbiel to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Joe Thatcher and Tony Campana.[20] For the season, he played for the Arkansas Travelers of the AA Texas League, the Mobile BayBears of the AA Southern League, and the Salt Lake City Bees and Reno Aces of the AAA Pacific Coast League.[16] He batted a combined .258/.320/.432 in 461 at bats.[16]

He played most of 2015 for the Mobile BayBears of the AA Southern League, batting .314/.394/.511 with 10 home runs and 57 RBIs in 280 at bats.[16] He was MILB.com Southern League Player of the Month in July 2015, and was a Southern League mid-season All Star, and was an MILB.com Southern League Player of the Month for July 2015, .[1] He also played 18 games for Reno of the AAA Pacific Coast League, batting .154 in 52 at bats.[16]

In 2016, he batted .272/.337/.440 in 357 at bats for Reno of the AAA Pacific Coast League, with 15 steals in 16 attempts.[16]

Team Israel; World Baseball Classic

Borenstein played for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier.[21] During the opening game of the qualifier, he played right field and led off for Israel, going 2-for-5 while scoring a run and picking up an RBI.[22] During the second game of the qualifier Borenstein was hitless in 4 at bats, and struck out twice.[23] During the third and final game, Borenstein went 2-for-4 including a triple, with 1 walk, while scoring 2 runs and picking up a RBI, in addition to committing Israel's only error of the qualifier.[24]

He was the starting right fielder for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic main tournament, in March 2017.[25] Borenstein went 5-for-25, with 3 doubles and 2 RBIs in six games, as Israel went 4-2.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Zach Borenstein Stats, Highlights, Bio", milb.com
  2. ^ a b "Zach Borenstein," Eastern Illinois University Panthers
  3. ^ a b Mark Whicker (November 27, 2013)."Cal League MVP Borenstein moving up Angels depth chart," Orange County Register.
  4. ^ Cristel Mohrman (January 28, 2014). "Services Set for Katie Borenstein," Buffalo Grove, IL Patch.
  5. ^ Hillel Kuttler (April 3, 2016). "Baseball’s back: Here’s a look at 8 Jewish major leaguers and a manager," Jewish Journal.
  6. ^ a b c d "Mensch at the plate: Borenstein part of exciting Team Israel run in WBC," The Athletic.
  7. ^ "Zach Borenstein Making Mom Proud," Halos Heaven. May 12, 2013.
  8. ^ Alden Gonzalez (February 24, 2014). "Camp helps Borenstein heal from sister's death," mlb.com.
  9. ^ a b "Zach Borenstein Register Statistics & History," Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ Richard Morse (April 8, 2009). "All Access with baseball player Zach Borenstein," The Daily Eastern News.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Zach Borenstein," Eastern Illinois University Panthers.
  12. ^ John Leusch (March 13, 2017). "Borenstein helps Israel to 4-0 start," Daily Herald.
  13. ^ a b c Marty Maciaszek (June 9, 2011). "Borenstein's waiting game ends with Angels,", The Daily Herald.
  14. ^ "Eastern Illinois Baseball 2015"
  15. ^ "Borenstein Selected in 2011 MLB Draft", eiupanthers.com.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h "Zach Borenstein Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics & History," Baseball-Reference.com.
  17. ^ Colleen Kane (October 11, 2013). "Borenstein's career is ascendant; Angels prospect in AFL out of Buffalo Grove and Eastern Illinois coming off breakout season," Chicago Tribune.
  18. ^ Michelle Gardner (August 23, 2013). "Sixers’ Zach Borenstein named Cal League MVP," Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
  19. ^ Brian Nielsen (January 21, 2014). "EIU's Borenstein invited to Angels camp", Journal Gazette & Times Courier.
  20. ^ "D-Backs Acquire Borenstein and Krehbiel from Angels for Thatcher and Campana" (Press release). MLB.com. July 5, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  21. ^ Vince Lara-Cinisomo (September 22, 2016). "Rosters for WBC Qualifier in Brooklyn; Israel, Pakistan, Great Britain, Brazil," Baseball America.
  22. ^ "Israel 5, Great Britain 2," mlb.com, September 22, 2016.
  23. ^ "Israel 1, Brazil 0", mlb.com, September 23, 2016.
  24. ^ "Israel 9, Great Britain 1", mlb.com, September 25, 2016.
  25. ^ "Zach Borenstein Among Players Coming Back to Play for Israel in WBC," February 1, 2017.

External links

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