From the age of 4, Alon Leichman has been a part of Israel Baseball. Now, at age 27 he’s been recruited to the Dodgers Organization as a coach.
This past September, Alon Leichman could be found inside the bullpen at the MCU Park in Brooklyn, New York, coaching pitchers including former MLB pitchers Jason Marquis and Craig Breslow. His presence among such greats is a testament to his hard work, determination and a journey that started in the early days of Kibbutz Gezer baseball.
Alon was a four-year-old kibbutznik on Kibbutz Gezer in central Israel when he first picked up a glove and joined a team, running out of kindergarten straight onto the diamond. “Growing up in Gezer I really didn't have much choice but to get sucked into baseball since everyone that lives there played,” recalls Alon of the early days of Gezer baseball, where in essence, Israel baseball was born. Alon’s father, David (pictured right with Alon at the WBC Qualifiers in Brooklyn - picture by Hillel Kuttler), an immigrant from the US, was one of the founders of Gezer baseball, so it was natural that Alon should get involved. “My big brother played and was pretty good, so naturally wanted to be as good as he was.”
Alon developed his baseball skills in the early years of Israel baseball. “I had great experiences when I was a little kid going overseas to play on national teams with my best friends, as well as when I was older playing alongside my two biggest mentors in the game - Shlomo Lipetz, who coached me when I was 10, and Dan Rothem, who worked with me, during my army years.”
The bug to play baseball in the US was planted very early on for Alon. “I remember going to baseball camp as a six-year-old and knew back then that is what I wanted when I grew up.” When he was selected to play in the MLB Academy in Italy in 2008 he realized that playing in the United States was a real possibility. With help of coach Pat Doyle, Alon was recommended to the coach of the Cypress College team in Orange Country, CA. In 2009, the year before he was released from the Israel Defense Force, Alon spent a week working out with the team. By the end of that week, he was invited back. Two weeks after he was released from the IDF, he flew to California to pursue his dream.
College was a positive experience for Alon until he hurt his arm and required elbow surgery. But this did not deter him from continuing to pursue his childhood dream. “I continued to work hard to get back to where I was physically before surgery. I was able to come back and have a great collegiate experience from winning a state championship at Cypress College to playing summer ball at a high level and being fortunate to transfer to UC San Diego (following the footsteps of Team Israel pitcher Shlomo Lipetz who had also studied and played baseball there).”
Alon had been a closer for Cypress College and a weekend starter for UC San Diego. “They were each different but great roles,” he notes. “My arm never recovered and I had to undergo a second elbow surgery, but I was able to really find what it takes to make best out of my ability with whatever on any given day.”
After Alon graduated, he negotiated with various independent ball teams as well as teams in Australia, but decided that it would be a better opportunity to take a job as the pitching coach for the YD Red Sox in the Cape Cod League. This led to the most recent step on his career ladder. He was recently approached by the Dodgers to coach in the instructional league, which focuses on player development. In this role he works alongside the coaching staff and helps out with the development of young Dodgers pitching prospects. Alon is hoping that this will lead to a full time position for the upcoming season.
Along with his new and exciting ties to baseball in the US, Alon still has a strong connection to home. “Israel baseball pretty much runs in my blood,” he insists. “I'm only in the US now because the Israel Association of Baseball gave me the platform to play.” Alon keeps his hand in Israel baseball - he coaches whenever he’s home on a visit and plays on the Senior National Team.
He’s also been part of the World Baseball Classic teams, both this year and four years ago in the qualifiers in Florida. “Both times were very special to me,” he says. “Four years ago I was fortunate to play on Team Israel as one of the Israel-born team members along with Shlomo and Dan. I made new friendships that are strong to this day. This time around as a coach it was a bit different for me but very fulfilling since we won and accomplished the goal we all set. This group of guys was truly special.”
Looking ahead to his future, Alon believes that if he’s not still involved with a professional team in the US or coaching at a top college, he will be in Israel helping on the ground with developing the game.
He has a message for players coming up and hoping to follow in his footsteps: “Dan Rothem introduced me to a way of thinking which is ‘Process over Product’. This means that you have to commit to taking care of business on and off the field, be a student of the game, coach young players - and things will take care of themselves.”
