Team Israel enters next month’s World Baseball Classic with one of its strongest rosters to date — and a realistic understanding of the challenge ahead.
The sixth edition of the WBC will be held March 5-17 in Houston, Miami, Tokyo and San Juan. Israel, which qualified by securing a win in the 2023 tournament, will again compete in Pool D in Miami against Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands and Nicaragua.
On paper, this may be Israel’s deepest squad since its breakthrough run in 2017.
San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader headlines the roster, bringing playoff experience and defensive range. Baltimore Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer returns as the staff anchor and the most experienced WBC arm on the team. Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs and Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz add further major league credentials.
Veteran pitchers Tommy Kahnle and Matt Bowman strengthen the bullpen. Bowman, who recently signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins and has pitched in the majors for multiple clubs, joins the team for the first time. His wife, Eve Levin, is the daughter of Jeremy Levin, the Israeli-American former CEO of Teva Pharmaceuticals.
As in past tournaments, the roster is composed largely of American Jewish players eligible for citizenship under the Law of Return, alongside a handful of Israeli-born players. Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, one of the most prominent Jewish stars in baseball, will suit up for the United States.
Several other high-profile Jewish major leaguers were also eligible but are not on Israel’s roster. Veteran slugger Rowdy Tellez chose to represent Team Mexico. Left-hander Max Fried, an All-Star who now pitches for the New York Yankees after serving as the Atlanta Braves’ ace, is not participating for Israel. Nor is Joc Pederson, the World Series champion designated hitter and outfielder who has previously played for Team Israel.
Brad Ausmus, the New York Yankees bench coach, will manage Israel. A longtime supporter of the program, he led Israel in the 2013 qualifiers and has been part of multiple WBC campaigns. He will be joined by former major leaguers Kevin Youkilis, Mark Loretta and Jason Marquis.
There is cautious optimism surrounding the team.
Israel’s 2017 run — which included wins over South Korea, Chinese Taipei, the Netherlands and Cuba — proved it can compete on the international stage. But the 2023 tournament served as a reminder of the steep climb. Israel went 1-3 in Miami, beating Nicaragua but struggling against deeper, star-studded lineups.
The 2026 draw presents a similar test.
Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are perennial powerhouses loaded with All-Star talent. The Netherlands has long been disciplined and dangerous. Nicaragua, while less heralded, cannot be overlooked — and may represent Israel’s clearest path to securing qualification for the next WBC.
Pitching will likely determine Israel’s ceiling. Kremer provides a proven starter who performed well in 2023, but beyond him the staff will need multiple arms to rise to the occasion. The bullpen, bolstered by experienced major league relievers, could emerge as a strength.
Offensively, Israel appears deeper and more balanced than in recent tournaments, with Bader’s presence adding both credibility and leadership.
The overall outlook is one of guarded confidence. Israel looks better constructed in theory than it did three years ago, with more established big league talent and continuity in leadership. At the same time, the margin for error remains slim in a pool featuring some of the strongest teams in international baseball.
Advancing would require strong pitching, timely hitting and perhaps a measure of the 2017 magic. But for a program that has already defied expectations before, cautious optimism may be justified.