Baseball

Alex Bregman, who drew a Jewish star on his cap after October 7, inks $175M deal with the Cubs

Bregman's contract with the Chicago Cubs is the second-largest contract ever signed by a Jewish ballplayer, behind Max Fried’s $218 million contract in 2024.

|ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Alex Bregman meets the media during his first press conference after signing with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on January 15, 2026.
Alon Leichman, former assistant pitching coach for the Miami Marlins, looks on before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 18, 2025.

Alon Leichman becomes first Israeli head pitching coach in the MLB

Leichman, who grew up on Kibbutz Gezer, had just wrapped up a season as assistant pitching coach for the Miami Marlins when he received the news on Saturday.

|ByGRACE GILSON/JTA
Houston Astros former pitcher Roger Clemens tosses a ball before the game between the Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays at Minute Maid Park, August 2, 2025.

Trump backs Roger Clemens for Baseball Hall of Fame, bashing 'erroneous' drug accusations

"The only reason he is not (in the Hall of Fame) is because of rumors and innuendo, which were not proven," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

|ByREUTERS
SANDY KOUFAX, himself inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, appears at this year’s ceremony in July, in Cooperstown, New York. He showed that being Jewish wasn’t something to hide or on which to compromise, the writer asserts.

Sandy Koufax put his Judaism before his baseball career: What will be your Sandy Koufax moment?

When our kids see us sacrifice for our Jewish values and for Israel, and when they take part themselves, they learn that these are not ideals but living commitments.

|ByMATTHEW WEISBAUM

On her 100th birthday, a Holocaust survivor threw a first pitch at a Yankees-Rays game

Kahan stood confidently on the Tropicana Field pitcher’s mound with her daughter and son by her side. It didn’t matter that the throw only made it halfway.

MAY 24, 2023ByMAX BAKER/JTA
May 19, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; a general view of the stadium before a game featuring the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

The Jewish Sport Report: Israel shoots for World Cup history in Argentina

Israel appears for the first time at the under-20s World Cup, marking its first appearance since its 1970 World Cup debut.

MAY 20, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
MEMBERS OF the Israel Under-20 National Team take part in an event with the Buenos Aires Jewish community this week prior to the start of the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Blue-and-white junior baseball team captures PONY Euro title, headed to World Series

“We finally won. Nobody remembers the name of Bar Kochva’s deputy and nobody gets credit for second place.” 

MAY 2, 2023ByDANNY GROSSMAN
TEAM ISRAEL celebrates on the field after their PONY League Under-18 European Championship title in Germany this week.

The Jewish Sport Report: A legendary Jewish sportswriter

This is what's going on in the Jewish sports world.

APRIL 29, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney (5) during the first quarter in game two of the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Golden 1 Center.

Why are there so many Jewish sports halls of fame?

At first, Rawitch told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, he questioned whether he was truly worthy of being honored alongside fellow Hoosiers.

APRIL 22, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Jewish Yankee Harrison Bader talks baseball over matzah ball soup and pastrami at Liebman’s Deli

Harrison Bader discusses his career, being Jewish, and whether his mother's cooking gives him an edge.

APRIL 22, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Israel's baseball team celebrates their win over Russia at the start of the European Championships, on September 12, 2021.

Climate change is causing more home runs in baseball - study

If current climate trends continue there will be 192 additional long balls per year by 2050 and 467 more per season by 2100, researchers said.

APRIL 12, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Jewish pitcher Eric Reyzelman has his sights set on a career in Major League Baseball.

All the Jewish MLB players to watch in 2023

Last year, 17 Jewish players appeared in a game — a likely record. This season, the number could be even higher.

MARCH 25, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
ISRAEL OUTFIELDER Mitch Glasser had at least one hit in all five Olympic baseball games, finishing with a .412 batting average (7-of-17). Three of his hits were doubles, and he drove in four runs, including a two-run single in the victory over Mexico.

Ryan Lavarnway, Team Israel veteran and World Series champ, retires from MLB

“An outsider might say there were more downs than ups, but I wouldn’t give back a single day.” Lavarnway wrote in an essay in The Athletic.

MARCH 23, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Ryan Lavarnway of Israel in action at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics vs. South Korea, Yokohama Baseball Stadium, Yokohama, Japan, August 2, 2021.

Team Israel exits World Baseball Classic with 5-1 loss to Venezuela

With the loss, Israel exits the WBC in fourth place in Pool D with a 1-3 record, but will automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament.

MARCH 16, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Venezuela right fielder Anthony Santander (25) hits a single during the first inning against Israel at LoanDepot Park, Miami, Florida, March 15, 2023.