Israel Baseball’s own Alon Leichman has been the coach to watch. The latest news from the Kibbutz Gezer native is that he was just named Coordinator of Organizational Learning for the Seattle Mariners' player development program, supporting the Minor League managers and coaches
On a short visit home in Israel, Alon took break from his vacation to participate as a coach in the Baseball Le’Kulam program for Israeli Arab and Jewish kids. He also took time to tell us more about his new role.
“I will be involved in player development for the Mariners minor league system,” says Alon. “My job as Coordinator of Organizational Learning will be to bring back any on-field information, drills or techniques that I think the Mariners will benefit from and then discuss a plan with our front office and coaches on how to relay this to the players.” In addition, Alon will also be wearing the Mariners uniform as he will also be assisting coach pitchers.
Alon isn’t quite sure how the Mariners found him, but he’s happy they did. He had been working as a pitching coach for the YD Red Sox in the Cape Cod League, and then spent a short time coaching in the LA Dodgers the instructional league. “Several people in the Mariners organization reached out to me, and eventually they told me that they chose me for this position.”
Alon is positive about this new job. “I will focus on doing the best job I possibly can and do whatever is being asked of me to do.”
One high point about Alon’s new position is that even though he will be officially starting his new job on January 1, the organization has given him the freedom to join Team Israel for the World Baseball Classic in March in South Korea, where he will continue as pitching coach, a role he took on at the September WBC Qualifiers in Brooklyn. “Thanks to the Mariners I can still be a part of something so meaningful to me,” Alon enthuses. “I am really looking forward to the WBC and to being part of the Mariners organization.”
Alon, who grew up playing baseball on the field of Kibbutz Gezer, continues to bring great pride to Israel baseball. We wish him the very best.