Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Major League Baseball

Israel pitcher Ben Simon, center, high-fives his teammates after Israel defeated the Netherlands during a World Baseball Classic game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Miami. (AP /Lynne Sladky)
March 12, 2026, 3:02 pm
Defying expectations, Israel exits World Baseball Classic by clinching spot in 2030
Squad goes 2-2, guarantees place in next tourney despite being ranked 19th out of 20 teams, fueling hopes for future among small, enthusiastic fanbase and roster of mostly US Jews
By jacob gurvis
Team Israel's Justin Alinoff pitches during the team's exhibition game against the Miami Marlins, March 3, 2026 (Courtesy Jared Polin)
March 6, 2026, 3:22 am
Novelty no more, Team Israel goes to bat for local game with return to World Baseball Classic
Built mainly around American Jewish players, the team returning to the global tourney this week has become a symbol of Jewish identity and a driver for the sport’s growth at home
By Zev Stub
Israel's pitcher Dean Kremer, right, celebrates his team's victory with catcher Nick Rickles against Taiwan after the first round game of the World Baseball Classic at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, March 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
February 7, 2026, 2:09 pm
Israel’s World Baseball Classic team to be headlined by Harrison Bader, Dean Kremer
Twenty nations submit 30-man rosters for 6th edition of international tournament; putting Team Israel together is ‘always a rollercoaster ride,’ says general manager
By ToI Staff and JTA
New Chicago Cubs infielder Alex Bregman talks to media at a news conference in Chicago, January 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
January 17, 2026, 6:34 am
Alex Bregman, who drew Jewish star on his cap after Oct. 7, inks $175M deal with Cubs
Contract is the second-largest ever for a Jewish baseball player; his father has described his major league career as ‘the fulfillment of four generations of short Jewish Bregmans’
By jacob gurvis
Alon Leichman, then with the Miami Marlins, gestures signs toward catcher Agustín Ramírez during the eighth inning of a US baseball game on September 20, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP/Julio Cortez)
December 11, 2025, 7:29 pm
In first for Israel, Kibbutz Gezer’s Alon Leichman named pitching coach for MLB team
Leichman, who has worn the number of his kibbutz laundry tag and highlighted his Israeli identity, has been appointed by the Colorado Rockies
By ToI Staff and JTA
Miami Marlins assistant general manager Gabe Kapler sits in the dugout before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, California. (AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
November 4, 2025, 11:27 am
Gabe Kapler promoted to general manager of MLB’s Miami Marlins
Jewish baseball exec previously played and coached for Team Israel, has Magen David and ‘Never Again’ tattoos on his legs
By Agencies
Yankee Stadium before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets, May 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
August 21, 2025, 7:48 am
NY Yankees knowingly picked player who once drew a swastika on Jewish classmate’s door
Core Jackson says he was drunk during incident at age 17, says, he’s grown up and ‘I don’t want there to be any excuses for my actions’
By Grace Gilson
Monte Pfeiffer is No. 12, second from left on the bottom row in a photograph of the Wilkes-Barre (Pennsylvania) Coal Barons. The Jewish shortstop had a breakthrough year for the minor league team in 1913. (Courtesy Zak Kranc via JTA)
August 15, 2025, 8:00 pm
Baseball fans can now add little-known Monte Pfeiffer to roster of Jewish players
A sharp-eyed enthusiast adds new discovery rooted in dusty box scores, old news articles and genealogical detective work – a chosen athlete who played one game for Philadelphia in 1913
By Scott Barancik
Houston Astros' Alex Bregman bats during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, September 22, 2024, in Houston. (AP/Kevin M. Cox)
February 13, 2025, 6:45 pm
Jewish slugger Bregman signs $120 million deal with Red Sox
Contract marks highest-ever annual salary for a Jewish MLB player as 3rd baseman — who sported Star of David on hat after Oct. 7 attack — leaves Astros for Boston
By ToI Staff and AP
A complete collection of Jewish players' baseball cards being sold at Sotheby's is estimated to fetch more than $500,000 in January 2025. (Sotheby's via JTA)
January 17, 2025, 5:40 pm
Sotheby’s auctions world’s biggest Jewish baseball card collection
Set of over 500 cards representing 191 Jewish players expected to fetch $500,000 to $700,000
By jacob gurvis
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Spencer Horwitz reaches for an infield grounder during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays September 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius, File)
January 10, 2025, 1:32 am
Pirates welcome Jewish player Spencer Horwitz to the team
Acquired in a December trade with Toronto, the first baseman is an underdog Jewish fans can get behind – a late draftee who proved himself as he slugged his way up into the majors
By Jonathan Mayo
Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning in game two of the Wild Card series at Petco Park on October 2, 2024, in San Diego, California. - The New York Yankees have agreed to sign left-handed pitcher Fried to an eight-year, $218 million dollar contract -- the largest ever for a left-handed hurler, MLB.com reported on December 10, 2024. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America/AFP)
December 11, 2024, 5:46 am
Jewish pitcher Max Fried signs record-breaking deal with NY Yankees
All-Star’s 8-year, $218 million deal with New York baseball team marks the largest-ever contract for both a Jewish player and a left-handed pitcher
By jacob gurvis
Levi Sterling played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team in 2023. (Courtesy of USA Baseball via JTA)
July 22, 2024, 2:06 am
Meet the 6 Jewish baseball players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft
Up one draftee from last year’s 5, this crop of ballplayers still represents less than 1% of the new MLB class – but they are making an outsized impression
By jacob gurvis
Steinmetz has represented Israel on the field at the World Baseball Classic and with an Israeli flag patch and headband in the minor leagues. (Joseph Nguyen; Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images/ via JTA)
July 8, 2024, 1:30 am
How Orthodox minor-league pitcher Jacob Steinmetz is staying on top of his Judaism game
Walking to practice on Shabbat and fueling up on kosher delivery meals are just some of the ways the baseball player fields religion while staying focused on baseball
By jacob gurvis
Baseball player Ryan Braun. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images/via JTA)
November 18, 2023, 4:28 pm
MLB star, others to be inducted into Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
2024 induction class includes former baseball player Ryan Braun and NFL’s Mitchell Schwartz; Israeli tennis players Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram also make the list
By jacob gurvis
Load More

Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community

Sign in or Register

Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Sign in or Register
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.