Zach Borenstein

Zach Borenstein
Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 18
Outfielder
Born: (1990-07-23) July 23, 1990
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Bats: Left Throws: Right

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

Early life

He was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the son of David and Nancy Borenstein, and is Jewish.[2][3] He attended Buffalo Grove High School, where he 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, and was a Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times All-State honoree as a senior.[4]

For college, he attended Eastern Illinois University, where he majored in Kinesiology and Sports Studies.[2]

Career

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.[5][6] He made his professional debut with the Arizona League Angels, hitting .274/.397/.451 with two home runs in 113 at-bats over 31 games. In 2012 he played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He hit .266/.339/.485 with 11 home runs in 293 at-bats in 79 games.

In 2013 he played for the Inland Empire 66ers, hitting .337/.403/.631 with 28 home runs over 407 at-bats in 112 games.[7] 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] For his play he was named the California League MVP.[8][9] He was named the Angels' 2013 Minor League Player of the Year, was a mid-season All Star, was a post-season All Star, was a Topps Class A All Star, was a MILB.com organization All Star, was Topps Cal Player of the Year, and was Player of the Week on July 29, 2013.[1]

In 2014, he was invited to spring training by the Angels.[10] On July 5, 2014, Borenstein was traded with fellow prospect Joey Krehbiel to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Joe Thatcher and Tony Campana.[11]

He was MILB.com Southern League Player of the Month in July 2015, and was a mid-season All Star, with Mobile.[1] He batted .314/.394/.511 for Mobile.[4]

Team Israel

Borenstein played for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier.[12] During the opening game of the qualifier, Borenstein played RF and led off for Israel, going 2 for 5 while scoring a run and picking up an RBI.[13] During the second game of the qualifier Borenstein was hitless in 4 at bats and struck out twice.[14] 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.[15]

Personal

Borenstein's sister, Katie, died at 20 from a blood clot in her pulmonary artery on January 25, 2014.[16]

References

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