The New York Yankees on Monday selected Eric Reyzelman, a Jewish pitcher from Louisiana State University, in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Reyzelman, picked 160th overall, told JTA he plans to sign with the team and begin his career in professional baseball instead of returning for final year at LSU. He does not yet know what his first stop will be in the Yankees organization.
“Unbelievable, unbelievable moment for me and my family,” he said, minutes after receiving the news.
Reyzelman was born and raised in California and has never been to New York. He is the son of two Jewish immigrants — his mother from Ukraine and his father from Moldova, and Reyzelman said he is looking forward to putting down Jewish roots in New York.
“Everywhere I’ve gone, every Jewish person in so many areas of the country are somehow all Yankee fans. It’s unbelievable,” he told JTA.
“Historically, it’s just the best team in baseball and to be able to play for them is an absolute dream come true,” he added.
Reyzelman was drafted by an MLB team a year after two Orthodox Jewish players were drafted in the 2021 draft.
The Arizona Diamondbacks picked right-handed pitcher Jacob Steinmetz as their 77th overall pick. A day later, the Washington Nationals selected catcher Elie Kligman with their 20th round pick.
Reyzelman is not Orthodox like Steinmetz and Kligman, but told JTA that his Jewish faith helps drive him on the mound, and that he wants to get involved in the local Jewish community of wherever he ends up playing. He added on Monday that he has always wanted to help offer baseball clinics for Jewish children who are interested in baseball.
There are currently 10 Jewish players who are on rosters of MLB teams. Among them, two were selected to play in the All-Star Game which will be played at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night: Left-handed pitcher Max Fried from the Atlanta Braves and outfielder Joc Pederson of the San Francisco Giants.
Pederson will start in left field and bat eighth for the National League team, but Fried backed out of the game, choosing instead to take the time to rest over the All-Star break. He was replaced on the roster by Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams.