RJ Schreck Homers in Israel's Loss to Venezuela

Miami, FL – Although Israel fell to Venezuela in their first game of the World Baseball Classic, Toronto Blue Jays prospect RJ Schreck had a nice day, hitting a 413-foot homer in the top of the sixth inning off left-handed pitcher Ricardo Sánchez.

Schreck, whom the Blue Jays traded for back in 2024 when they sent Justin Turner to the Seattle Mariners, slashed .249/.395/.459/.854 with 18 home runs, 53 RBI and a 143 wRC+ in 105 games played last season. Schreck is Jays Centre's No. 16 prospect in Toronto's system.

"They contacted me last year, around August, when I was in Triple A," Schreck said, of playing in his first WBC. "Anytime you get a chance to play in the World Baseball Classic, it's really hard to turn down. I had a feeling that the United States wasn't going to come calling, so just trying to find a place where I could play. I am Jewish, have been Jewish my entire life, so it's just going to be a really fun time playing baseball."

Unfortunately for Israel, Venezuela, led by Luis Arraez's multi-homer game, took the game by a final score of 10-2. Israel's first run of the contest came in the top of the fifth inning when Matt Mervis drove in Garrett Stubbs.

Schreck and Israel will play again today at 7:00 pm against Nicaragua. Nicaragua was walked off by the Netherlands yesterday on an Ozzie Albies home run.

Kevin Barral is on-site in Miami covering the World Baseball Classic for DiamondCentric.

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