Israel World Baseball Classic roster: Joc Pederson, Dean Kremer headline 2023 WBC team

Israel was one of the biggest surprises in the World Baseball Classic in 2017. It won't catch anyone off guard this time.

Heading into the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Israel is a team loaded with MLB names, led by two-time All-Star Joc Pederson in the outfield and a pitching staff that is filled with MLB and MiLB talents, including Orioles hurler Dean Kremer. It also has a pair of veteran MLB catchers and several intriguing prospects on the team that help make it one of the most well-rounded rosters in this year's field.

And this team isn't just stacked on the field. Even the coaching staff is loaded with former All-Stars and World Series champions, including Ian Kinsler, Brad Ausmus and Kevin Youkilis.

Here's all you need to know about Israel's World Baseball Classic roster.

MORE: When is the World Baseball Classic?

Team Israel World Baseball Classic 2023 roster

The Israel baseball team is loaded with familiar names, highlighted by Pederson and Kremer.

Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

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Team Israel players to watch

The biggest star on Team Israel is Giants slugger Joc Pederson, who has launched 171 home runs in his nine-year big-league career and is coming off one of his best seasons in the majors, having slashed .273/.353/.521 with 23 home runs with 70 RBI and 57 runs scored. He'll be joined in the outfield by former Giant starter Alex Dickerson, who back in 2021, launched 13 home runs in 111 games with a .420 slugging percentage.

The pitching staff is also loaded with players that have gained time in the majors over their careers. Kremer had a bounce-back 2022 when he had a 3.23 ERA in a career-best 125.1 innings with 87 strikeouts and only 34 walks. Richard Bleier, a reliever of seven seasons, continued to produce in his age-35 campaign with the Marlins, posting a 3.55 ERA in 55 appearances. He has a 3.06 career ERA.

Catching that staff will be a pair of veterans in Garrett Stubbs and Ryan Lavarnway. Stubbs was the Phillies' backup catcher during their World Series run in 2022 and performed well when called on to relieve J.T. Realmuto, posting an .812 OPS with five home runs in 46 games of work. Lavarnway is an experienced backstop with 10 years in the big leagues, most recently with the Guardians in 2021.

MORE: World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule

There are also several intriguing prospects on the roster. Cubs infielder Matt Mervis burst onto the scene as a prospect in 2022, slashing .309/.379/.606 with 36 home runs. A's infielder Zack Gelof also had a breakout campaign in 2022 when he posted a .270/.352/.463 line with 18 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. Joining them in the infield will be retired utility bat Danny Valencia, who had his best two seasons in the majors in 2015-16 with the A's, when he combined to slash .286/.349/.469 with 28 home runs in 177 games of action.

Who is coaching Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic?

If you thought the roster was loaded, just wait till you see the coaching staff. Ian Kinsler, a four-time All-Star and 2018 World Series champion, will be managing the team. He had previously played for Team United States in 2017 before obtaining Israeli citizenship in 2020 and helped Team Israel in the Olympics.

Team Israel has two former managers in Brad Ausmus (Tigers and Angels) and Jerry Narron (Rangers and Reds) as bench coaches. Youkilis, a three-time All-Star and 2007 World Series champion, will be the team's hitting coach. Former Astros reliever Josh Zeidis the team's pitching coach.

Former professional baseball players Tyger Pederson (first base coach), Blake Gailen (third base coach) and Nate Fish (bullpen coach) round out the team's staff.

MORE: MLB team-by-team WBC breakdown

Team Israel baseball at the World Baseball Classic

Israel had a Cinderella run in the 2017 World Baseball Classic when it not only qualified for the tournament for the first time, but swept Pool A in the first round to move on to the second round. It looked like the run might continue after it got off to a hot start in the second round, beating Cuba 3-1 to start the pool play 1-0, but it dropped games to the Netherlands and Japan to finish third in the pool and see its run come to an end.

Israel received an automatic qualification for 2023, setting it up to play in Miami.

Team Israel baseball World Baseball Classic 2023 schedule

Israel will start on March 12 in Miami against Nicaragua before moving on to two major challenges in facing Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Team Israel will then wrap up the first round against Venezuela on March 15.

In order to advance to the second round, Israel will have to finish as one of the top two teams in the pool.