01In brief
Zack Weiss is a Jewish-American baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball and represented Israel at the Tokyo Olympics. He earned the win in Israel’s first Olympic baseball victory, allowing one run in two innings in a 12–5 victory over Mexico. His professional career included a difficult major-league debut in 2018 and a return to the majors with the Los Angeles Angels four years later.
02Career
Weiss made his first major-league appearance in 2018, allowing four runs, including two home runs, without recording an out; his resulting earned run average was infinite.[1] A 2018 report identified him as a Cincinnati Reds professional.[3] Another report described him as a Major League Baseball free agent in October that year.[4]
In October 2018, Weiss was among ten Jewish-American baseball players expected to begin the process of obtaining Israeli citizenship, partly to help Israel qualify for the 2020 Olympics.[3][4] The players planned to travel to Israel to begin that process.[3] Olympic eligibility required players to hold citizenship in the country they represented for at least a year before pre-Olympic competition, unlike the eligibility rules for the World Baseball Classic.[3][4]
In April 2021, Weiss was named among 21 pitchers on Israel’s expanded, 44-player Olympic roster, with the Kansas City Monarchs listed as his club.[5] That roster was the pool from which the 24-person traveling squad would be selected.[5] Weiss subsequently appeared among the pitchers on Israel’s 24-player Olympic team; Israel had secured its Olympic berth by defeating South Africa in the 2019 qualifying tournament.[6]
At the Tokyo Olympic baseball tournament, Weiss earned the win against Mexico, allowing one run in two innings of relief as Israel won 12–5.[2] The result kept Israel’s medal hopes alive and advanced the team to the tournament’s double round-robin phase.[2]
Four years after his major-league debut, Weiss returned to the majors with the Angels, appearing in 12 games and recording a 3.38 earned run average.[1] During the 2023 MLB season, he appeared in another 12 games, divided evenly between the Angels and the Boston Red Sox.[7] He also played for Team Israel in 2023.[7] He joined the Minnesota Twins ahead of the 2024 season.[7]
03Legacy
Weiss was the winning pitcher in Israel’s first Olympic baseball victory, the 12–5 win over Mexico at the Tokyo Games.[2] His participation followed his inclusion in the group of Jewish-American professionals who planned to pursue Israeli citizenship to support the country’s Olympic qualification effort.[4]
His Jewish religious life also featured during his professional career: while playing minor-league baseball in Montana, Weiss spoke about attending Rosh Hashanah services.[1]
Sources
- 1The Times of Israel, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 2The Times of Israel, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 3Ynet, 10 Jewish baseball players made aliyah—to get to the Olympics, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 4The Times of Israel, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 5The Jerusalem Post, Israel unveils expanded roster for Tokyo Games, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 6Sport5, The full roster: Sorting out the representatives of the Israeli delegation, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 7The Jerusalem Post, All the Jewish MLB players to watch in 2024, accessed on November 4, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
Who is Zack Weiss?
Zack Weiss is a Jewish-American baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball and represented Israel at the Tokyo Olympics. He earned the win in Israel’s first Olympic baseball victory, allowing one run in two innings in a 12–5 win over Mexico.
What happened when Zack Weiss made his Major League Baseball debut?
Zack Weiss allowed four runs, including two home runs, without recording an out in his first major-league appearance in 2018. His resulting earned run average was infinite.
Why did Zack Weiss plan to obtain Israeli citizenship?
Zack Weiss was among ten Jewish-American baseball players who planned to begin the process of obtaining Israeli citizenship in 2018, partly to help Israel qualify for the 2020 Olympics. Olympic eligibility required players to hold citizenship in the country they represented for at least a year before pre-Olympic competition.
What did Zack Weiss do for Israel at the Tokyo Olympics?
Zack Weiss earned the win in Israel’s 12–5 Olympic baseball victory over Mexico, allowing one run in two innings of relief. The victory kept Israel’s medal hopes alive and advanced the team to the tournament’s double round-robin phase.
How did Zack Weiss perform after returning to the major leagues?
Zack Weiss returned to the majors with the Los Angeles Angels four years after his 2018 debut, appearing in 12 games and recording a 3.38 earned run average. In the 2023 MLB season, he appeared in 12 more games, divided evenly between the Angels and the Boston Red Sox.
What was Zack Weiss’s connection to Jewish religious life?
While playing minor-league baseball in Montana, Zack Weiss spoke about attending Rosh Hashanah services.