Who is Jacob Steinmetz? Meet the 19-year-old pitcher who got the better of Manny Machado and Jeremy Pena in WBC 2023

Jacob Steinmetz is a name that has been making headlines in the world of baseball, and for good reason. Born on July 19, 2003, Steinmetz is a 19-year-old American professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

He was selected in the third round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft by the Diamondbacks and is the first practicing Orthodox Jewish player to be selected in the MLB draft. Steinmetz started for Team Israel on Tuesday against Team Dominican Republic in Miami.

A look into Jacob Steinmetz’ life

Growing up in Woodmere, New York, Jacob Steinmetz was raised in a Modern Orthodox Jewish family and played baseball with the Young Israel of Woodmere team in the shul league.

He later joined the Long Island Chargers travel team at the age of 7 and played an instrumental role in the team's win of the 2012 National Junior Baseball League 9U level championship. Steinmetz was the only Jewish player on the team, standing at just 4' 8" and the youngest player on the team.

He attended the Orthodox Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, where he played baseball before switching to the Elev8 Baseball Academy in Delray Beach, Florida, in March 2021.

Jacob Steinmetz was then accepted on scholarship to play NCAA Division I baseball at Fordham University, but he decided instead to play professional baseball, and the rest is history.

In the 2021 Major League Baseball draft, Jacob Steinmetz was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round as the 77th overall pick. He signed for a below-slot $500,000 and became the first practicing Orthodox Jewish player to be selected by a major league team. In 2021, Steinmetz pitched one inning in the minor leagues for the Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks at 17 years of age.

Jacob Steinmetz's pitching career started off strong, and he was rated Arizona's #25 prospect in January 2022, with a strong curveball and a 97-mph fastball. In 2022, he pitched for the Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks at 18 years of age, becoming the youngest player in the league by over three years.

He struggled a bit during this season, with a record of 0-7 and a 7.88 ERA in 11 games, seven of which he started. However, he still managed to strike out 27 batters in 24 innings, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Jacob Steinmetz's international debut was nothing short of spectacular, pitching for the Israeli national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Steinmetz made headlines in Israel's third game against the Dominican Republic, pitching 1 2⁄3 innings and striking out Manny Machado, Jeremy Peña, and Gary Sanchez.

Steinmetz is a role model for young athletes who aspire to play professional baseball while remaining true to their cultural and spiritual heritage. He is Orthodox Jewish, observes the Jewish Sabbath, eats only kosher food, and walks to and from the stadium instead of riding in a car, bus, or plane during this time. Despite the challenges, Steinmetz continues to shine and inspire others with his dedication, talent, and perseverance.