Eric Reyzelman

Reyzelman's parents immigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union; his father, Alex, moved to the United States from Moldova in 1986, and his mother, Victoria, came from Ukraine in 1989. He and his family are Jewish.{{cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2022/07/14/sports/jewish-pitcher-eric-reyzelman-throws-100-mph-is-it-enough-for-the-mlb-draft|title=Jewish pitcher Eric Reyzelman throws 100 mph. Is it enough for the MLB Draft?|first=Jacob|last=Gurvis|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|date=July 14, 2022|accessdate=February 6, 2025}} Reyzelman grew up in San Ramon, California, with two brothers, one of whom played college football at Fresno State University. He grew up as a fan of pitcher Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Reyzelman attended De La Salle High School in Concord, California. He played for the school's baseball team in his freshman and senior years, but was cut from the team in his sophomore and junior years. His parents suggested that he give up on baseball and focus on academics, but Reyzelman decided to try again. After his junior year, he began weightlifting, and his fastball velocity increased to {{convert|88|to|89|mph}}. As a senior, he had an 8–0 win–loss record and a 0.55 earned run average (ERA).{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/hudson-valley/news/reyz-of-hope-eric-reyzelman-forged-breakout-campaign-in-2024|title=Reyz of Hope: Eric Reyzelman forged breakout campaign in 2024|website=MiLB.com|first=Jordy |last=Fee-Platt|date=October 10, 2024|accessdate=January 31, 2025}}

Reyzelman enrolled at the University of San Francisco, where he played college baseball for the San Francisco Dons for two seasons. He had a 5–4 win–loss record and a 5.72 ERA, but also averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://jweekly.com/2022/08/01/twice-cut-from-his-high-school-team-jewish-east-bay-pitcher-has-been-eric-reyzelman-drafted-by-the-yankees/|title=Twice cut from his high school team, Jewish East Bay pitcher Eric Reyzelman has been drafted by the Yankees|first=Gabe |last=Fisher |work=Jewish Weekly|date=August 1, 2022|accessdate=January 31, 2025}} He had Tommy John surgery in March 2020, and returned to the Dons in 2021. After the 2021 college season, Reyzelman played collegiate summer baseball for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL), where he posted a 2.66 ERA and 36 strikeouts in {{frac|23|2|3}} innings, and was named a league all-star.{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1528698 |title=#30 Eric Reyzelman - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=May 25, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/sports/2021/08/02/cape-league-reyzelman-continues-unprecedented-summer-harwich-win/5450197001/|title=Cape Cod Baseball League: Reyzelman continues unprecedented summer in Harwich win|first=Adam|last=Cole|work=Cape Cod Times|date=August 2, 2021|accessdate=February 2, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.jns.org/plucked-by-new-york-yankees-eric-reyzelman-is-off-to-play-ball/|title=Plucked by New York Yankees, Eric Reyzelman is off to play ball|first=Howard|last=Blas|date=July 27, 2022|website=JNS.org}} He transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play for the LSU Tigers for the 2022 season, and recorded 66 strikeouts in {{frac|42|1|3}} innings pitched, averaging 13.7 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. Reyzelman returned to Harwich in the summer of 2022 and was 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA.{{cite web |title=Eric Reyzelman |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=reyzel000eri |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=26 March 2025}}

The New York Yankees selected Reyzelman in the fifth round, with the 160th overall selection, of the 2022 MLB draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/eric-reyzelman-yankees-5th-round-pick-son-of-jewish-immigrants|title=Yanks' 5th-rounder learned resilience from Jewish parents|date=July 19, 2022|first=Bryan |last=Hoch|website=MLB.com|accessdate=January 31, 2025}} He signed with the Yankees for a $340,700 signing bonus. Reyzelman missed most of the 2023 season due to a cyst in his lower back that required three surgeries to correct.

In the 2024 season, Reyzelman pitched at three different levels of Minor League Baseball, combining for a 1.16 ERA, an 0.96 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts in {{frac|38|2|3}} innings (14.7 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched), finishing the season with the Somerset Patriots of the Double-A Eastern League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/eric-reyzelman-thriving-on-the-road-less-traveled|title=Eric Reyzelman: Thriving On The Road Less Traveled|date=September 12, 2024|first=Matt |last=Kardos|website=MiLB.com|accessdate=January 31, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/baseball/patriots/2024/09/17/eric-reyzelman-works-his-way-into-yankees-future-bullpen-consideration/75255945007/|title=Cut in high school, Eric Reyzelman works his way into Yankees future bullpen consideration|first=Mike|last=Ashmore|website=Courier News|date=September 17, 2024|accessdate=January 31, 2025}} His fastball velocity increased to {{convert|95|to|99|mph}}. He also threw an {{convert|82|to|85|mph}} slider as well as a changeup, both of which regularly fooled batters.{{cite web |last1=Longenhagen |first1=Eric |title=New York Yankees Top 45 Prospects |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/new-york-yankees-top-45-prospects/ |website=Fangraphs |access-date=26 March 2025}}

In 2025, the Yankees invited Reyzelman to spring training as a non-roster player.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-announce-26-non-roster-invitees-to-spring-training|title=26 invited to Yanks big league camp, including 4 top prospects|first=Jake|last=Rill|work=MLB.com|date=February 5, 2025|accessdate=February 6, 2025}}

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Category:Living people

Category:2001 births

Category:Sportspeople from San Ramon, California

Category:San Francisco Dons baseball players

Category:Harwich Mariners players

Category:LSU Tigers baseball players

Category:Florida Complex League Yankees players

Category:Tampa Tarpons players

Category:Hudson Valley Renegades players

Category:Somerset Patriots players

Category:American people of Moldovan-Jewish descent

Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent

Category:Jewish American baseball players

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:Baseball players from Contra Costa County, California