Israel’s Baseball Team Brings Together American Players Of Jewish Heritage
NEW YORK — While spring training is underway in Florida and Arizona, many of baseball’s biggest stars and prospects are playing in the World Baseball Classic. It’s a chance for fans of international competition to enjoy watching teams like the United States, Japan and the Dominican Republic fight for global supremacy.
Modeled after soccer’s World Cup and organized in large measure as a response to the International Olympic Committee’s decision in 2005 to remove baseball from the Summer Olympics, the World Baseball Classic is contested every three years. The 2021 edition was scrapped because of the pandemic. The WBC returned this month with 20 teams, including Israel.
Team Israel is made up largely of Americans of Jewish heritage since WBC rules state that any player eligible to be a citizen of a country is entitled to play for that nation’s baseball team even if the player has not obtained citizenship. Israel’s Law of Return gives anyone with a Jewish parent or grandparent — or anyone who is married to a Jew — the right to be an Israeli citizen.
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The team is coached by Ian Kinsler, who played in the majors for 14 seasons as a member of the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. He won the 2018 World Series as a member of the Red Sox.
In 2017, the team finished sixth, a remarkable feat that earned it the nickname of the “Jamaican bobsled team of the WBC.” A 2019 documentary called “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” detailed that amazing run.
Israel’s roster at the current edition of the WBC includes 34 players, and all but one holds a U.S. passport. There are nine players who spent at least a little time in the big leagues last season, including two-time All-Star Joc Pederson of the San Francisco Giants.
But two players stand out on this Israel team — and not just for their playing abilities. Both players represent the diversity of Judaism on this team and what it means to be an Israeli. The country’s national baseball federation has a motto — “where traditions meet” — and that couldn’t be truer with this team.
In addition to an ace like Pederson on the mound, Israel also featured hurler Jason Steinmetz. A native of Long Island just outside New York City, the 19-year-old pitcher is famous for his fastball and for being and the first Orthodox Jew to be drafted into Major League Baseball. He’s yet to play in the majors, but has pitched in the Arizona Complex League with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
Although Israel lost 10-0 to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night in Pool D, Steinmetz struck out three batters, including six-time All-Star Manny Machado and Jeremy Pena, the 2022 World Series MVP. He gave up just two hits and a run before a loud crowd at Miami’s Loan Depot Park.
“It was awesome,” Steinmetz said after the game. “Coming out here in front of a sold-out stadium, with all the Dominican fans and the Israel fans, was something that I’ll never forget.”
Don’t expect Steinmetz to take Israel to international baseball’s promised land. Following Nicaragua’s defeat to Venezuela earlier Tuesday, Israel will officially finish above last place in Pool D. Although it won’t advance to the knockout round at this year’s tournament, Israel will automatically qualify for the next WBC in 2026.
While baseball has had Jewish stars like Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, Jews make up less than 1% of major league rosters. That’s where Tyler Patrick Kelly, a former major leaguer now playing AAA ball comes in.
The 28-years-old Kelly and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round in 2009. He’s also Jewish.
“Well, there are two sides to every story,” Kelly said. “And there are two sides to my name, I guess. My dad’s side of the family is Catholic, and my mom’s side … is Jewish, so I got the privilege of experiencing two religions growing up.”
But Kelly said his family didn’t attend church or synagogue when he was growing up.
“When my mom’s side of the family was over, we were learning about the basic Jewish stuff … and when my dad’s side was over it was all about Christianity and everything,” he added. “It was a good mix of both.”
Indeed, this Israel team has been a good mix. It’s also been one of moderate success and pride in being Jewish while helping to grow the game outside the United States.
Clemente Lisi is a senior editor at Religion Unplugged and teaches journalism at The King’s College in New York City. He is the author of “The FIFA World Cup: A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Event.” Follow him on Twitter @ClementeLisi.