Fueled by Faith, D’backs Prospect Steinmetz Seeks to Make MLB History
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Jacob Steinmetz understands the weight of what he has set out to accomplish.
Somehow, he doesn’t let the pressure of trying to make history get to him. That’s all you can do when you are trying to become the first Orthodox Jewish player in Major League Baseball.
Roaming the backfields at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training complex in Scottsdale, he smiles when asked about the pressure.
“I guess I’m kind of used to it at this point,” Steinmetz said.
Steinmetz, 21, is attempting to go beyond what the nearly 200 Jewish MLB players who preceded him have done. Raised Modern Orthodox in Woodmere, New York, and picked by Arizona in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft (77th overall), the 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher has a few more hurdles to jump through regularly compared to your typical minor league prospect.
He adheres strictly to Halakhah Law, which includes the rules of Shabbat in the Jewish religion between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday. During that 24-hour window, Steinmetz prefers to avoid pitching, walk only to and from the stadium, consume exclusively Kosher food and avoid riding in motor vehicles or using his phone.
He comes from an athletic background, as well. His father, Elliot, has been the head coach of the Division III Yeshiva University men’s basketball team since 2014. Elliot and Steinmetz’s mother, Sima, have heavily supported their son’s baseball pursuits since his childhood.
“They have been super supportive since day one, always taking me to different tournament showcases and all that kind of stuff,” Steinmetz said. “They were never pushing me away from playing in college or playing pro ball or trying to get drafted or anything like that.”
The Diamondbacks have gone above and beyond to assist Steinmetz in honoring his customs.
“They have ordered me food throughout the year, whether it’s from a place out here [in Arizona], or during the season from a grocery store in Los Angeles that ships out pre-made stuff,” Steinmetz said. “The team organizes all of that and we’ve had no problems with that so far.”
The organization also accommodates Steinmetz’s wishes to be closer to any given field where the Diamondbacks or his minor league affiliate are scheduled to play. If the team hotel is not walkable to the field, the team arranges a second hotel or Airbnb for him.
Steinmetz is appreciative of the lengths his team has gone to in making him comfortable as well as the support he’s received from his fellow teammates in big league camp and down in the minors.
“They’ve been really good,” Steinmetz said. “Obviously, there’s a lot of questions at first, but I’ve had a good group of guys I’ve known now for a couple of years and they’ve helped me out with a bunch of stuff, so that’s awesome.”
One of those teammates is fellow pitcher Kyle Backhus, who was Steinmetz’s first spring training roommate in 2022. Backhus said he was eager to learn about the then 18-year-old’s beliefs.
“I was pretty open,” Backhus said. “I told him, ‘If you need anything, let me know.’ If he had to pray, don’t be ashamed of it. I’ll step out of the room. No big deal.”
Backhus even walked with Steinmetz to spring training camp on a rainy day three years ago. He wanted his younger roommate to know that he was not alone.
“I was just trying to be nice. You know, see what other people go through,” Backhus said. “I think it’s been pretty cool to see the interaction between [him and his teammates], and the way he goes about his business.”
Steinmetz is keenly aware that he is at the forefront of the next generation of Jewish baseball stars. Israel has seen a surge in baseball interest since its national baseball team began achieving success in major events like the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics.
“I think it’s huge just for [Israelis] to be able to see that we’re able to compete on that level,” Steinmetz said. “There’s a lot of Americans that move out there and they’re bringing the game with them. I think it’s really awesome to see that it’s grown so much.”
Team Israel burst onto the baseball scene at the 2017 WBC, which Steinmetz vividly remembers watching as a dream-riddled 14-year-old.
The last thing he expected was to don the blue pinstripes and the Star of David when Team Israel returned to the WBC stage in 2023. Not even two years into his professional career, Steinmetz found himself facing established Dominican Republic stars on a major league mound at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
At 19, he became the youngest pitcher to start a WBC game. He struck out Padres star Manny Machado and Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena on devastating sliders. He caught veteran catcher Gary Sanchez looking with a 93-mph fastball at the knees. He looked wise beyond his years.
“It was very special being able to represent Team Israel on that high stage,” Steinmetz said. “It was huge [for my confidence]. It was a good boost knowing that when I’m out there throwing my best, it’s good enough to get the top guys in the world out.”
Steinmetz says he will be willing and able to complete when Team Israel, managed by 14-year MLB veteran Ian Kinsler, returns to the WBC in 2026.
In the meantime, Steinmetz is focused on the task at hand — his development. He split the 2024 season with the Single-A Visalia Rawhide and High-A Hillsboro Hops, posting a 4.01 ERA in 107 2/3 innings pitched with 113 strikeouts. An oblique injury, however, has delayed the start to his 2025 season.
“It was cool to start moving up levels and facing some higher-level hitters and seeing that my stuff was able to compete at that level,” Steinmetz said. “This year I’m focusing on going out every day, being consistent, and hopefully moving up.”
As his ascension up the minor-league ladder continues, Steinmetz honors his ancestry with two accessories he takes to the mound each time he pitches. The first is an Israeli flag headband he wears underneath his hat. It came in handy for the long-flowing brown locks spilling out of his cap that he trimmed last offseason. The second is another small Israeli flag stitched onto his glove.
Steinmetz hopes that one day he will be able to sport his Israel tributes on a major league mound again, this time while wearing a big-league team’s uniform.
“I hope it’s a good little peek into that it’s possible,” Steinmetz said. “When I was growing up, my parents were always the ones that were telling me that there’s no reason not to do it.”
Category: Arizona Diamondbacks, Cactus League
Tagged: Arizona Diamondbacks Cactus League Jacob Steinmetz
