Magnitude of world stage not lost on trio of top prospects repping Team Israel

JUPITER, Fla. -- RJ Schreck has yet to make his Major League debut, but he’ll cross off his third ballpark this Saturday in Miami.

Schreck is one of three top prospects, along with shortstop Cole Carrigg and right-hander Charlie Beilenson, representing Team Israel at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Pool D at loanDepot park.

The scale and magnitude will be far greater than anything Schreck experienced at Spring Training over the years and scrimmages ahead of the Blue Jays’ postseason run.

“It was always something that was on my radar,” Schreck said. “I had a feeling that 2026 would be more feasible to [play] for Israel than the U.S. at that point. I'm Jewish, and have been Jewish my whole life. I was bar mitzvahed, so being able to come here and play with a bunch of other Jews is going to be a fun experience. It's not often you see a locker room full of 30 Jews.”

• Tuesday's exhibition box score: Israel 1, Marlins 0

Leading the clubhouse is manager Brad Ausmus, whose time with Team Israel dates as far back as September 2012, when he served as the skipper for a qualifying roster of Minor Leaguers at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Ausmus also was the manager for the 2023 exhibition against the Marlins in a Classic warmup. Not many people have seen how much Israeli baseball has evolved over the decades more than him.

“It's grown quite a bit from 2012, so we're almost 15 years removed from that original team,” Ausmus said. “Having played in multiple WBCs now has given the Israeli baseball program a little higher profile. It's a little more well-known there, as well as here, with American Jewish ballplayers. I would say there's quite a difference in the last 15 years.”

Joining that trio of prospects this time around are 12 players at big league camp with experience, including right-handers Dean Kremer (Orioles) and Tommy Kahnle (free agent), outfielder Harrison Bader (Giants), catchers Garrett Stubbs (Phillies) and C.J. Stubbs (Blue Jays) and infielders Spencer Horwitz (Pirates) and Matt Mervis (Nationals).

“It's without a question good for young players, because you step into loanDepot [park] like we did in ‘23 and it's a playoff atmosphere,” Ausmus said. “You're playing the Dominican Republic, and there's 35,000 people, and it's very loud, and you're having to scream to each other in the dugout just to hear what you're saying, or hear what they're saying. There's energy. It's palpable energy. Each pitch matters. I think for young players to experience that, it's definitely a plus for their careers.”

The 25-year-old Schreck, who ranks as the Blue Jays’ No. 9 prospect, posted an .828 OPS in 58 games at Triple-A with a career-high 18 homers across four levels in 2025.

Beilenson, 26, ranked as the Mariners’ No. 24 prospect in 2025. He is a strike-throwing reliever who posted a 10.8 K/9 and 4.02 ERA across the High-A and Double-A levels in 2025 – his first full professional season.

Carrigg, who ranked as the Rockies’ No. 3 prospect in 2025, is a switch-hitting shortstop and center fielder who slugged 15 homers and stole 46 bases at the Double-A level.

“It's definitely a situation where, if you play well against a team like the Dominican or Venezuela or even Nicaragua and Netherlands, I'm sure if you showcase well, it can definitely help you out,” said the 23-year-old Carrigg, whose grandmother on his dad’s side was Jewish.

“... Just know that you're good enough to be on the same field with them and play up to their level and go about it how they do.”

Beilenson has imagined what it would be like to face some of the game’s top batters in a high-pressure situation. It could come as soon as Saturday, when Israel opens its pool-play action at 7 p.m. ET against Venezuela.

“This will be, by far and away, the biggest thing I've done in my life,” said Beilenson, whose father’s side of the family is Jewish. “Probably the same for pretty much anyone from the sound of how this kind of works.

“Let everyone see who I am as a pitcher. I think I have a good, fun time on the mound and just a good, fun presence in general. So just show that I'm ready for a situation like this, because this could be a launching pad. This could just be a fun experience. So I'm hoping to use it either way.”