There’s always 2029
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There’s always 2029

By Joanne Palmer March 12, 2026, 9:58 am Edit
Noah Mendlinger congratulates designated hitter Spencer Horwitz, right, on March 9, after Horwitz’s home run against the Dominican Republic during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game in Miami.
Noah Mendlinger congratulates designated hitter Spencer Horwitz, right, on March 9, after Horwitz’s home run against the Dominican Republic during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game in Miami.

Maybe it makes sense that the World Baseball Classic is played in the spring, and the baseball season starts this month. March 25, to be precise. Hope springs eternal, right?

And there is hope in baseball’s Team Israel. For next time, at any rate.

It played four games in this year’s classic. It lost to Venezuela 11-3, but recovered, at least slightly, the next night. Its first, encouraging win, was 5-0, against Nicaragua. Then it lost again, to the Dominican Republic, 10-1. That meant it was out of contention.

Still, the team played once more, against the Netherlands, and won, 6-2. So it’s two for four in the tournament’s first round, which puts it in third place — squarely in the middle — of the five-team pool.

To be fair, the team’s not exactly Israeli. Not really. Its members could be Israeli, at least in theory — most of them are Jewish, or at least the descendants of Jews. And they’re proud to play wearing Israel’s colors, under Israel’s flag, and in this world, that’s not nothing.

And because it won at least one game, Team Israel qualifies to play in the next World Baseball Classic, because, yes, there’s always 2029.

—JP

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