The World Baseball Classic changed my life, and I’m absolutely pumped for it to be back for a sixth time!
I tell people all the time that I likely would not be working in baseball right now, and even more likely not working at Major League Baseball over the last 4 1/2 years if not for the World Baseball Classic.
When I attended Israel’s first-ever WBC qualifier games in Jupiter, Florida, in September 2012, I experienced what it was like to watch the two things I’m most passionate about in the world, baseball and Israel, mesh into one for a short period, and I experienced the heartbreak of Israel losing and just missing out on qualifying after a 10th inning loss vs. Spain.
I had no idea what kind of fire and next-level passion for the game of baseball and Team Israel was ignited within me from that experience, but trust me, it’s been so real.
I have since never missed attending a Team Israel WBC game (qualifier, exhibition, or tournament), watched our squad finally qualify and win the first four games in the 2017 WBC, and watched our country build on that success to be on of six qualifying nations in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I have also watched the youth baseball participation numbers on the ground in Israel gradually grow alongside a stronger sense of pride among Jewish professional ballplayers and those rising in the ranks with dreams now of representing Israel on the world stage.
The World Baseball Classic has allowed me to experience baseball in South Korea and Japan (which I cannot recommend highly enough), meet fellow avid international baseball fans and travelers from all around the world, and make connections on the playing, coaching, scouting, and business side of the baseball industry that have helped change my life and support me on my current career path.
For all of that, I am thankful for the World Baseball Classic and all the people and effort that go into making this an epic tournament and making it better with each passing occurrence.
I hope you take the opportunity to enjoy this tournament as much as I will again, because baseball is the best, and the World Baseball Classic is always incredible! 🤩
