‘Take High Road, Laugh, Have Fun With It,’ Team Israel Coach Says of Criticism of Jewish Players

Jonathan D. Salant

Assaf Lowengart, the primary Israeli-born skilled baseball participant and the one sabra on Team Israel within the World Baseball Classic, was wanting to have his mother and father come from Timorim to see him in motion in 2023.

But he broke his ankle three weeks earlier than the event started and his mother and father stayed dwelling.

Lowengart healed, got here again to Team Israel and ready to welcome his mother and father to Miami for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. But then conflict broke out with Iran, and his mother and father canceled their baseball journey for a second time.

Instead, he talks together with his household earlier than taking the sphere because of the time distinction.

“I’m healthy, I can play and they can’t come because of the war,” Lowengart informed JNS after ending battling follow. He wore cleats inscribed with am Yisrael chai, Hebrew for “the nation of Israel lives.”

He described having a spread of feelings on the identical time: “special” and “awesome,” but in addition each “happy” and “sad.”

Lowengart received into the sport March 9, enjoying heart discipline in opposition to the Dominican Republic. He snagged an extended fly ball off the bat of outfielder Juan Soto (New York Mets) within the ultimate inning of the 10-1 loss.

“When you play, obviously when you get between the lines — it’s baseball,” he informed JNS. “So you gotta clear the head, focus on the task at hand, win the game.”

Players stated that they had been conscious of the continued conflict with Iran, at the same time as their primary focus all week remained on baseball.

“We obviously are in support of Israel,” outfielder Zach Levenson (St. Louis Cardinals) stated, responding to a JNS query at a press convention.

“I try not to look at it that way,” he informed JNS. “I try to just keep my eyes on the field and do what we can to play winning baseball on the field and to raise awareness for Israel.”

Dean Kremer (Baltimore Orioles), the successful pitcher in Sunday’s sport in opposition to Nicaragua, was born in California to Israeli mother and father, frequently visits the Jewish state and acknowledges what’s happening in his ancestral homeland.

“It’s not the first time that they’ve had to deal with this and probably won’t be the last time,” Kremer stated at a special press convention through the World Baseball Classic.

“But they’re a strong group of people,” he stated. “We’re a very resilient group of people — my family over there holding tight as best as possible. They’re just staying strong.”

Others had completely different experiences. Outfielder RJ Schreck (Toronto Blue Jays) stated that he hasn’t skilled a lot Jew-hatred.

“I have been lucky enough not really to feel much antisemitism in my life,” he informed reporters. “I grew up in L.A. around a lot of Jews. Went to a couple of colleges that you meet some people that have never met Jews before, but there’s still a large Jewish population at both colleges.”

“I’m lucky to have not experienced it, and just really excited to play baseball here,” he stated. “That’s been fun.”

Team Israel’s bench coach and former Red Sox, Kevin Youkilis, pushed again not too long ago on social media in opposition to a critic who recommended he was extra loyal to the Jewish state, since he wasn’t on Team USA within the event. (A Boston Herald reporter famous that he wasn’t requested to be a part of the American staff.)

“It’s kind of interesting how people just want to put stuff out there and you just gotta correct the record and just let people know that you’re proud of your heritage, you’re proud to coach this team,” Youkilis informed JNS.

“Online is just online,” he stated. “That’s their real world. We’re living the real world on the field, and we do this for a living because we love it.”

“Social media is a whole other world in itself where people are living a whole different kind of life,” he stated.

Youkilis, who spent 10 years within the main leagues, primarily with the Red Sox, informed JNS that he made no apologies for embracing his late father’s heritage.

“I’m not gonna not stand up for our Jewish heritage and our pride,” Youkilis stated. “So for me, I don’t shy away from it. It’s never going to get me down, because I’m just gonna keep living my life, loving baseball, loving my family and loving my heritage.”

“With all the criticism normally directed at players at the ballpark, you develop a thick skin,” he stated.

“I’ve gotten a lot of things directed at me. You can either let it bother you, or laugh,” Youkilis informed JNS. “So you either have a choice to get angry and let it take on that energy, or you can just take the high road and laugh and have fun with it.”

Team Israel supervisor Brad Ausmus (New York Yankees) stated that he wouldn’t have stated something, however Youkilis is a special type of animal.

“That’s Youk being Youk. Youk likes to engage,” Ausmus informed JNS throughout a press convention. “I tend to be a little more private on social media. But Youk is — I mean this in the best possible way — unique and fun to be around and fun to have around.”