JTA — Ian Kinsler swaps his bat for a lineup card.
The former All-Star point guard will lead Israel’s team to the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic. Lately he also has no plans to play for the team.
The 14-year-old Jewish MLB veteran played for Team Israel at the 2020 Olympics held last year and told the Jewish Telegraph Agency at the time that his purpose was to raise the profile of the game in Israel.
“A medal for the Israeli team would create that stir,” he said, and “would obviously attract more attention to the sport. So, it’s exciting to think about all of this. “
The World Baseball Classic, founded in 2006 and held every four years, is the only outdoor foreign baseball tournament of Olympic competition.
“I was very excited when I was asked to lead team Israel at the WBC and it didn’t take me long to accept the job,” Kinsler said on a Wednesday. “I enjoyed my time betting on the tournament and now that I know Israel Baseball well from my time in the Olympics, I’m sure we’ll have a very competitive team that will go far. “
Kinsler won two gold gloves in his career and is among the all-time leaders in MLB Jewish baseball in stolen bases (243), home runs (1999), home runs (257) and hits scored (909). He played the first 8 años. de his career with the Texas Rangers, but also spent time with the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres. He won the 2018 World Series with the Red Sox and was also a member of team USA Championship. USA at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
While the Israeli team found itself empty at the 2020 Olympics, the team gained prominence in an unexpected race at the 2017 WBC, beating out several of the more sensible groups and entertaining enthusiasts with their beloved mascot, the Mensch on the bench. Coach Eric Holtz resigned after the team ran unsuccessfully last summer.
The 2023 World Baseball Classic was originally scheduled for 2021, but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualification is expected to begin in September and the tournament will increase from 16 to 20 teams. Israel automatically qualified for the tournament.
According to the Jewish-U. S. National Fund, which budgets Israel’s baseball program, Kinsler will travel to Israel this summer, where he will bring the torch at the opening ceremonies of the Maccabean Games.
“I can’t wait for Israel this summer and see the young skill that will be demonstrated at the Maccabiah Games,” he said. “We are already working hard to combine a winning roster for Israel in the WBC and I can’t wait to make all our enthusiasts proud. “
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