February 19, 2026

The New Wave: Meet the 18 Fresh Faces Ready to Carry the Flag in Miami

By Israel Baseball News Staff

The roster is set, the lights at Woodmont Country Club have dimmed, and Team Israel is officially on the “Road to Miami”. While the 2026 squad features a battle-tested backbone of veterans like Dean Kremer and Garrett Stubbs, there is a distinct surge of new energy this time around.

Eighteen players will be wearing “Israel” across their chests for the first time in World Baseball Classic competition. From established big league stars to high-ceiling prospects, this new wave represents the growing depth and elite talent of the global Jewish baseball community. And, of course, 18 is a number with massive significance in Judaism, representing “chai” or life.

Here is your exclusive spotlight on the 18 newcomers joining the Blue and White:

The Big League Reinforcements

These veterans bring high-stakes MLB experience to the clubhouse—exactly what is needed for a “shark tank” of a pool in Miami.

• Harrison Bader (OF, Giants): The headliner. A University of Florida alum and 2021 National League gold glove winner, Bader gives Israel a true general to patrol centre field. Baseball fans know him for his elite jump and sprint speed – skills he honed as a Gator before becoming a 3rd-round pick by the Cardinals. For good measure, he’s coming off the best offensive season of his big-league career.
• Tommy Kahnle (RHP, current free agent): A high-leverage specialist with a 3.61 ERA over 11 major-league seasons, half a dozen with the New York Yankees, Kahnle (pronounced CAIN-lee) was the NCAA Division II World Series MOP for Lynn University. Kahnle is famous for having one of the best changeups in the majors—a pitch with devastating tumble that generates an elite whiff rate.
• Matt Bowman (RHP, Twins): An Ivy Leaguer from Princeton, where he was a rare two-way threat (pitcher and shortstop), Bowman is a pro’s pro with a sinker-heavy profile that excels at inducing double plays. He’s made 231 appearances over parts of seven big-league seasons with seven different teams.
• Eli Morgan (RHP, Royals): Known for his “invisiball” changeup, Morgan’s usage of the pitch jumped to nearly 32% in 2023, making him a nightmare for left-handed hitters. In 2024, he posted a sparkling 1.93 ERA over 42 innings for the Cleveland Guardians. He finished his college career in Gonzaga’s all-time top three in wins and strikeouts.

The “Bash Brothers” & Infield Depth

Team Israel has always leaned on high baseball IQ on the dirt. These newcomers add elite power and versatility to that mix.

• Jake Gelof (3B, Dodgers): The younger brother of 2023 standout Zack Gelof, Jake was a 2nd-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Virginia. He obliterated the UVA record books with 21 home runs in 2022 and posted a .956 OPS for the Dodgers’ A-ball team in Rancho Cucamonga in 2024.
• Cole Carrigg (INF, Rockies): Carrigg is a switch-hitter with “80-grade” (tops on the scouting scale) versatility. He was drafted as a catcher but can also play a Gold-Glove caliber shortstop or center field. He has posted an .809 OPS in his three seasons in the Colorado system, with 99 stolen bases over the past two years. His arm strength is a game-changer.
• Benjamin Rosengard (INF): A Chicago native and Rice University alum who previously stood out at the University of Chicago and McLennan CC. After playing for Israel in the 2023 European Championships, he brings a high-contact bat and elite academic pedigree (AP Scholar/Yale Book Award) to the roster.

The Outfield Engine

Beyond Bader, the outfield features three high-ceiling bats that have been tearing through the minor league ranks.

• Troy Johnston (OF, Rockies): Johnston has become a minor league sensation, consistently posting elite OBP numbers and leading his systems in RBIs. He’s a pure hitter who rarely wastes an at-bat. The Gonzaga product made his major-league debut last season and posted a 107 OPS+ with the Miami Marlins, seven percent  better than the average big-league hitter.
• RJ Schreck (OF, Blue Jays): A left-handed bat who was called out by Blue Jays’ general manager Ross Atkins this spring as a “young player to watch” Schreck is a walk machine with elite plate discipline. He had more walks than strikeouts in the minors in 2024 and has a career .386 OBP in the pros.
• Zach Levenson (OF, Cardinals): Levenson famously homered in his very first collegiate at-bat for the Miami Hurricanes and is known for a rugged style of play, often leading his team in being hit by pitches. He reached AA in the St. Louis system last season, where he hit .275 with an .833 OPS.

The New Arms: The Bullpen Brigade

In a short-series tournament, pitching depth is everything. These eight newcomers provide some big-velocity relief with a high-octane lefty thrown in there.

• Ryan Prager (LHP, Guardians): A “command-first” starter with a deceptive fastball that hitters simply can’t barrel, the southpaw struck out more than a batter per inning over his college career at Texas A&M, including 124 in 97 innings as a sophomore.
• Max Lazar (RHP, Phillies): A spin-rate king whose slider features elite horizontal movement, he’s a perfect weapon for the 7th or 8th inning. Lazar made his major-league debut in 2024, putting up a stellar 1.098 WHIP in 11 appearances.
• Charlie Beilenson (RHP, Mariners): A closer at Duke before being drafted in the fifth round in 2024. Beilenson features a “kick” changeup that works as a primary out pitch, helping him rack up 75 strikeouts in just 62 innings in his first full season in the pros.
• Josh Blum (RHP, Mets): In 2024, the flamethrower posted a microscopic 1.87 ERA while holding opponents to a .154 batting average at USC. He brings “Pac-12 edge” and high-leverage experience.
• Harrison Cohen (RHP, Yankees): A New Yorker, Cohen is a classic “Yankee arm”—heavy on the four-seamer/slider combo—who climbed to Triple-A Scranton in 2025, just his third year in the pros, and posted a 1.57 ERA in 29 appearances.
• Jordan Geber (RHP, Mets): Geber set a school record at Mount St. Mary’s for the lowest opponent batting average (.210) before being signed out of the MLB Draft League. In three years in the Mets’ system, he’s posted a 4.13 ERA, reaching as high as AAA.
• Carlos Lequerica (RHP, Tigers): Lequerica is known for a high-velocity profile and a “swing-and-miss” mentality that fits perfectly in a short-relief role. He went 8-0 with a 2.35 ERA out of the bullpen with Detroit’s high-A West Michigan team in 2025.
• Ben Simon (RHP, Mets): Simon has been a fast riser in the Mets system, posting a sub-3.00 ERA in 2025 across multiple levels, including a 1.06 at AA Binghamton.

The Takeaway

“This isn’t just about adding names, it’s about adding the right names,” says Simon Rosenbaum, Team Israel’s general manager. “we’re excited to add these 18 players to the team. First because they’ll help us on the field and equally as much because of how much pride they all have in representing Israel.”

As the team prepares to head to Miami, these 18 newcomers are ready to prove that while they may be new to the WBC, they have the “stuff” to compete with the best in the world.

Stay tuned to Israel Baseball News for player interviews and behind-the-scenes content as we head toward the first pitch. Team Israel opens Pool D competition on March 7 at 7:00pm Eastern against Venezuela!