Team Israel blanks Marlins 1-0 in World Baseball Classic tuneup

Team Israel defeated the Miami Marlins 1-0 in an exhibition game before the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, March 3, in Jupiter, Fla.

Garrett Stubbs drove Cole Carrigg home on a triple in the fourth inning for the only run in the game. Only he, Carrigg, and Benjamin Rosengard registered a hit for Israel, which is entering its third WBC.

The Philadelphia Phillies catcher was injured during the 2023 WBC, which paved the way for his brother, Toronto Blue Jays catcher CJ Stubbs to enter the tournament for Israel. Being 3 1/2 years apart, the Stubbs brothers missed out on being high school teammates in San Diego and collegiate teammates at USC. The two catchers were both drafted by the Houston Astros but are now with different organizations. The Stubbs represent Team Israel’s first WBC sibling combo.

Speaking of USC, Robert Stock, a pitcher with the New York Mets, started for Israel and got the win after throwing three scoreless innings with only two hits allowed and three strikeouts.

Six other pitchers appeared on the mound in relief to toss a scoreless inning of their own, including Tommy Kahnle, a Lynn alum who has the most big league experience among Team Israel, from 2014 with Colorado to the present day in Detroit.

Daniel Federman closed the game out in the ninth inning with three strikeouts. Federman is a former Miami Hurricane who was recently in the Baltimore Orioles farm system and is making his second WBC appearance.

Team Israel will feature newly signed San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz, and Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer, who has been on all three WBC rosters. The real star power is in the coaching staff, led by manager and longtime MLB catcher Brad Ausmus. Ausmus, who previously managed the Los Angeles Angels, served as Team Israel’s bench coach in 2023 under Ian Kinsler, a 14-year MLB veteran who won the 2018 World Series with Boston. Along with Ausmus who had long careers in the big leagues is Kevin Youkilis (bench coach), Mark Loretta (third base coach), and Jason Marquis (bullpen coach).

Team Israel returns to Miami as one of five teams in Pool D. Israel will first match up with Venezuela on March 7, followed by Nicaragua (March 8), the Dominican Republic (March 9), and the Netherlands (March 10). The top two teams of each pool advance to the quarterfinals and the team that finishes last must qualify again to return to the next tournament.

Israel shocked the world in its WBC debut by going 3-0 to win Pool A in 2017. In 2023, Israel went 1-3 in a pool that featured Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

In the face of Venezuela and the D.R., who feature MLB stars all across their lineup, it is unlikely Israel will make it out of Pool D. However, a 2-2 showing should be enough to deem 2026 a success.