Ahead of Israel's appearance at the World Baseball Classic, beginning in South Korea, we talk to Sam Fuld, who joins Team Israel for the first time . The outfielder, who has played for the Chicago Cubs, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland Athletics, is known for his heroic defensive play and has been called "a crash test dummy with a death wish", a "human wrecking ball act", and a "manager's dream and a trainer's worst nightmare," as well as "Superman".
Tell us a little about yourself
I was Born and raised in Durham, New Hampshire. I graduated from Stanford University in 2004 and made my Major League debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2007. I've played in parts of nine seasons in the Major Leagues with four different teams - the Tampa Bay Rays, the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland Athletics.
How do you feel about representing Israel at the WBC?
I'm very excited about it. It's an opportunity to show the world how many great Jewish baseball players there are and to help grow the game of baseball in Israel. It's also an honor to represent a country that is so deeply connected to my heritage.
What do you think about the Team Israel roster?
I don't really know too many guys and haven't played with or against many of them, so that's a tough one for me to answer. We have great uniforms, I know that! And from what I've heard, the qualifying team in Brooklyn really came together despite many of the guys not knowing each other previously.
What connection do you have with Israel?
My father is Jewish and I've always been proud of my Jewish heritage, so Israel is of course a very special place for anyone who embraces their Jewish heritage.
How did your trip to Israel in January with nine other major league players, and your father, impact you?
The trip to Israel impacted me in many ways. The pride that I felt from native Israelis was very palpable and it felt great to be so embraced by them. I now feel a deeper connection to my Jewish roots and will be forever grateful for that. The highlight of the trip was to be able to experience everything with my father, who, like me, had never been to Israel.
What are you most looking forward to playing for Team Israel?
I'm excited to play in an international competition that showcases many of the world's best baseball players and to show the world how good Team Israel is.
What do you feel you bring to the table?
It looks like I'll be one of the more experienced players who has played in high pressure games before. Hopefully I can utilize those experiences to the benefit our team.
How do you rate the chances of Team Israel in the tournament?
It appears that we are underdogs, but we are playing a game that lends itself to upsets, especially when all we need to do is play well in two or three games.