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

Team Israel baseball players were filmmakers for new documentary about 2020 Olympic run

A documentary had followed Team Israel’s Cinderella run in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and the filmmakers wanted to make a sequel.

FEBRUARY 11, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
TEAM ISRAEL won a silver medal this week at the European Baseball Championships in Torino, Italy, after a heartbreaking 9-4 loss to the Netherlands in the final.

Here is Team Israel’s full World Baseball Classic roster

Team Israel will be showing up to Miami with a stacked roster.

FEBRUARY 10, 2023ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
TEAM ISRAEL won a silver medal at the European Baseball Championships in Torino, Italy, after a heartbreaking 9-4 loss to the Netherlands in the final.

The connection between Tu Bishvat and your portfolio

The New Year of the trees teaches us how to focus on the future, try to be the best we can be - and let the past go.

FEBRUARY 3, 2023ByAARON KATSMAN
‘BULLS MAKE MONEY, bears make money, pigs get slaughtered.’ No investment goes up in a straight line forever. Appreciate how well your portfolio has done over the last few years, and don’t become a pig.

Brad Ausmus, Kevin Youkilis join Team Israel coaching staff for 2023 World Baseball Classic

The arrival of former MLB All-Stars Brad Ausmus and Kevin Youkilis was announce by team manage Ian Kinsler, himself a former Jewish MLB All-Star.

DECEMBER 30, 2022ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Brad Ausmus, left, and Kevin Youkilis, right, have joined Team Israel's coaching staff for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

How an Israeli kibbutznik became an MLB pitching coach

Alon Leichman, the first athlete born in Israel to earn a major league baseball position, was recently named assistant pitching coach of the MLB's Cincinnati Reds.

DECEMBER 20, 2022ByELLI WOHLGELERNTER/JTA
Alon Leichman, recently hired as a pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds, pitches for Team Israel during the eighth inning of the Tokyo Olympic Games baseball opening round game against the United State in Yokohama, Japan, July 30, 2021.

Yankees outfielder Bader drops out of Team Israel’s World Baseball Classic roster, citing injuries

The Yankees outfielder cited a desire to recuperate after an injury-plagued season, but the Israeli team could still feature a dozen MLB players.

DECEMBER 17, 2022ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Harrison Bader bats during the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros, Oct. 20, 2022.

Nelson Cruz and other MLB players visit Israel to promote Christian-Jewish relations

MLB stars Nelson Cruz, Cesar Hernandez and Jeimer Candelario toured Christian sites and ran a youth baseball clinic.

NOVEMBER 23, 2022ByHILLEL KUTTLER/ JTA
From left, Jeimer Candelario, Nelson Cruz and Cesar Hernandez pose for a photo at a baseball field in Raanana, Israel.

Jewish ace Max Fried wins 3rd straight Gold Glove award for best defensive pitcher

Fried has established himself as one of the game’s best starting pitchers, and his 2022 performance only solidified that standing.

NOVEMBER 3, 2022ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 25: Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves flips the ball to force out Johan Camargo #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park on July 25, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Team Israel to boast current MLBers on its World Baseball Classic roster

The MLB will permit players to compete in the World Baseball Classic only if they are citizens of the country they represent or eligible to become one.

OCTOBER 15, 2022ByHILLEL KUTTLER/ JTA
Israel’s national baseball team won a silver at the European Championships on September 19 after losing the final to the Netherlands.

Astros Jewish secret weapon for the Playoffs

Astros manager Dusty Baker hopes matzah ball soup will give his team a playoffs boost

OCTOBER 8, 2022ByMATT SAMUELS/JTA
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) reacts and Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) runs to first base after hitting a home run during the first inning at Minute Maid Park, September 30, 2022.