Zach Borenstein
Borenstein with the Inland Empire 66ers in 2013
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1990-07-23) July 23, 1990
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Zachary Borenstein (born July 23, 1990) is an American professional left-handed-hitting baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent.

Borenstein attended Buffalo Grove High School in Illinois, where 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.

Early life

He was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the son of David and Nancy Borenstein.[1][2] His grandparents are June and Joseph Borenstein, and William and Ruth Rosenberg.[3] He is Jewish, and attended Hebrew school and had a bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth-Am in Buffalo Grove, Illinois.[4][5]

Borenstein's younger sister, Katie, died at age 20 from a blood clot in her pulmonary artery on January 25, 2014.[6] Borenstein has a tattoo on his arm of a song lyric about her.[5]

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.[7][8] His .524 batting average as a senior was the best in the Mid-Suburban League.[9][10] He was a Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times All-State honoree as a senior.[7] He was also a two-time all-area and all-conference player of the year.[9]

College

For college, Borenstein attended Eastern Illinois University, where he majored in Kinesiology and Sports Studies.[1] 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.[9] He was a 2009 OVC All-Freshman Team Selection and a 2009 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.[9] In 2010 as a sophomore he batted .353, playing third base primarily.[11] In 2011, he was an OVC First Team Selection after batting .349, playing in the outfield primarily.[9][11] His career .450 OBP was 5th-best in school history, and his .362 batting average was 6th-best.[12]

Minor leagues

Los Angeles Angels

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.[13][11] 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.[7] In 2012, he played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Class A Midwest League.[7] He hit .266/.339/.485 with 11 home runs in 293 at bats in 79 games.[7]

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.[14] Borenstein 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.[15] He was named the California League MVP.[16][2] 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 Angels Organization All Star, was Topps Cal Player of the Year, and was CAL Player of the Week on July 29, 2013.[15]

In 2014, Borenstein was invited to spring training by the Angels.[17]

Arizona Diamondbacks

On July 5, 2014, Borenstein was traded with fellow prospect Joey Krehbiel to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Joe Thatcher and Tony Campana.[18] For the season, he played for the Arkansas Travelers of the Double–A Texas League, the Mobile BayBears of the Double–A Southern League, and the Salt Lake City Bees and Reno Aces of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.[7] He batted a combined .258/.320/.432 in 461 at bats.[7]

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.[7] Borenstein 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.[15] He also played 18 games for the Reno Aces of the AAA Pacific Coast League, batting .154 in 52 at bats.[7]

In 2016, Borenstein batted .272/.337/.440 in 357 at bats for Reno of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, with 15 steals in 16 attempts.[7]

Playing again for the Reno Aces in 2017, he was named the PCL Player of the Week for August 7–13.[19] For the season, Borenstein batted .279/.351/.573 (8th in the PCL) with 27 doubles, 7 triples, 24 home runs, and 91 RBIs (5th in the league) in 384 at bats, and was an MILB.com Arizona Diamondbacks Organization All Star.[20][21] He elected free agency on November 6.[22]

New York Mets

In late November, Borenstein signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the New York Mets.[23] He played the 2018 season for the Mets' Class AAA Las Vegas 51s, batting .248/.357/.477. He led the Pacific Coast League with 82 walks, while scoring 92 runs (2nd in the league), and hitting 25 home runs (tied for 3rd), 32 doubles (tied for 5th), and 90 RBIs (7th).[24][25] Borenstein was the only member of the 51s to be named to the Triple-A All-Star Game.[26] He led all Mets minor leaguers in runs, walks, and doubles.[27] Both MiLB.com and MLB Pipeline named him a Mets Organizational All Star.[28][29] He was the only position player on the 51s to be with the team from the beginning of the season, and not be either called up or placed on the disabled list.[26] He became a free agent after the 2018 season.[30]

Chicago Cubs

On January 10, 2019, Borenstein signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.[31] He played for the Class AAA Iowa Cubs of the Pacific Coast League, batting .244/.279/.317 with one home run and six RBIs, in 41 at bats.[32] He was released on April 24, 2019.

Sugar Land Skeeters

On May 19, 2019, Borenstein signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 2019 for the team in 356 at bats he batted .270/.349/.452 with 16 home runs and 67 RBIs.[32] He became a free agent following the season.

Colorado Rockies

On January 3, 2020, Borenstein signed a minor-league deal with the Colorado Rockies.[33] Borenstein was released by the Rockies organization on April 7, 2020.

Sugar Land Skeeters (second stint)

In July 2020, Borenstein signed on to play for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season.[34]

Lightening Sloths

He then played for the Lightening Sloths, and batted .353/.522/.353.

Team Israel; World Baseball Classic

Borenstein played for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier.[35] 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.[36] During the second game of the qualifier Borenstein was hitless in 4 at bats, and struck out twice.[37] 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.[38]

He was the starting right fielder for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic main tournament, in March 2017.[39] Borenstein went 5-for-25, with 3 doubles and 2 RBIs in six games, as Israel went 4-2.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Zach Borenstein," Eastern Illinois University Panthers
  2. 1 2 Mark Whicker (November 27, 2013)."Cal League MVP Borenstein moving up Angels depth chart," Orange County Register.
  3. ↑ Cristel Mohrman (January 28, 2014). "Services Set for Katie Borenstein," Buffalo Grove, IL Patch.
  4. ↑ Hillel Kuttler (April 3, 2016). "Baseball’s back: Here’s a look at 8 Jewish major leaguers and a manager," Jewish Journal.
  5. 1 2 3 Jon Greenberg (March 15, 2017). "Mensch at the plate: Borenstein part of exciting Team Israel run in WBC," The Athletic.
  6. ↑ Alden Gonzalez (February 24, 2014). "Camp helps Borenstein heal from sister's death," mlb.com.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Zach Borenstein Register Statistics & History," Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. ↑ Richard Morse (April 8, 2009). "All Access with baseball player Zach Borenstein," The Daily Eastern News.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Zach Borenstein," Eastern Illinois University Panthers.
  10. ↑ John Leusch (March 13, 2017). "Borenstein helps Israel to 4-0 start," Daily Herald.
  11. 1 2 3 Marty Maciaszek (June 9, 2011). "Borenstein's waiting game ends with Angels,", The Daily Herald.
  12. ↑ "Eastern Illinois Baseball 2015"
  13. ↑ "Borenstein Selected in 2011 MLB Draft", eiupanthers.com.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. 1 2 3 "Zach Borenstein Stats, Highlights, Bio", milb.com
  16. ↑ Michelle Gardner (August 23, 2013). "Sixers’ Zach Borenstein named Cal League MVP," Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
  17. ↑ Brian Nielsen (January 21, 2014). "EIU's Borenstein invited to Angels camp", Journal Gazette & Times Courier.
  18. ↑ "D-Backs Acquire Borenstein and Krehbiel from Angels for Thatcher and Campana". MLB.com (Press release). July 5, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Aces' Borenstein, Buchanan earn weekly PCL honors," kolotv.com, August 14, 2017.
  20. ↑ "2017 Pacific Coast League - Season Review," The Baseball Cube.
  21. ↑ Zach Borenstein Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com
  22. ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Mets' Zach Borenstein: Signs with Mets," CBS Sports, November 22, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Gibson's homer leads Albuquerque to 7-3 win over Las Vegas" | tucson.com
  25. ↑ "Pacific Coast (AAA) Leaderboards » 2018 » Batters » Standard Statistics" | FanGraphs Baseball
  26. 1 2 "51s OF Zach Borenstein picked for Triple-A All-Star Game" | Las Vegas Review-Journal
  27. ↑ "Mets Minors’ Full Season Affiliates Offensive Leaders" – Mets Merized Online
  28. ↑ "Gimenez, Alonso hope to be kings of Queens" | MiLB.com
  29. ↑ "MLB Pipeline Names 2018 Mets Organizational All-Stars" | MetsMinors.net
  30. ↑ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2018). "Minor League Free Agents 2018". Baseball America. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  31. ↑ Brett Taylor (January 15, 2019). "Cubs Sign Slugging Outfielder Zach Borenstein to a Minor League Deal," Bleacher Nation.
  32. 1 2 "Zach Borenstein Minor, Fall, Winter & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  33. ↑ Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris (January 3, 2019). "Minor League Transactions: Nov 3 - Dec 17". Baseball America. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  34. ↑ Dunsmore, Ryan (July 9, 2020). "Skeeters set rosters for summer league". Fort Bend Herald. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  35. ↑ Vince Lara-Cinisomo (September 22, 2016). "Rosters for WBC Qualifier in Brooklyn; Israel, Pakistan, Great Britain, Brazil," Baseball America.
  36. ↑ "Israel 5, Great Britain 2," mlb.com, September 22, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Israel 1, Brazil 0", mlb.com, September 23, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Israel 9, Great Britain 1", mlb.com, September 25, 2016.
  39. ↑ Max Wildstein (February 1, 2017). "Zach Borenstein Among Players Coming Back to Play for Israel in WBC," Medium.
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