As the Washington Nationals’ final, 20th-round pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Elie Kligman became the second Orthodox Jewish player selected by an MLB team in two days.
A star pitcher and power hitter at Cimarron-Memorial High School in Las Vegas, Kligman has previously pledged to stick to his faith even if he makes it to the majors — telling the New York Times in March, “my goal is to become the first Shabbas observant player in Major League Baseball.”
Kligman’s father and agent, Marc Kligman, shared his son’s reaction to the news after learning of the Nats’ choice while traveling with the Israeli national baseball team.
On the @ILBaseball 🇮🇱 team bus heading to Hartford when he got the news. Nice to share it with the guys. pic.twitter.com/xVA5Z3G4CZ
— Marc J. Kligman (@MLBAgent) July 13, 2021
On Monday, New York native Jacob Steinmetz made history by becoming the first known Orthodox Jewish player drafted by a major league team, after he was selected 77th overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Steinmetz’s own reaction to the news was also shared on social media, after a phone call prompted an eruption of cheers from friends and family.
Amazing moment as Long Island native Jacob Steinmetz becomes the first Orthodox Jewish athlete to get selected in the MLB Draft pic.twitter.com/giZgs8GELh
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 12, 2021
He goes to chabad every shabbos
He wears Rashi and rabbeinu tam teffilin.
He’s a lubavitcher