This article takes you on a journey through the exciting world of Jewish sports. From record-breaking contracts to the first-ever instance of three Jewish hockey players on the same team, there's a lot to explore.

Uncover the Jewish Sports Phenomenon

Max Fried's Jewish MLB Milestone

Ace pitcher Max Fried entered the baseball offseason as a highly sought-after free agent. On Tuesday, he achieved a significant milestone by signing an eight-year, $218 million contract with the New York Yankees. This deal not only makes him the highest-paid Jewish player but also one of the biggest contracts for a left-handed pitcher in baseball history. Fried, a 30-year-old native of Los Angeles, grew up idolizing Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. Now, he has the opportunity to spend his career in a city with a large Jewish population. He joins fellow Jewish pitcher Scott Effross on the Yankees team, which also includes bench coach Brad Ausmus and several promising Jewish prospects like Eric Reyzelman. Read more about Fried's record-breaking deal here.

With a 3.07 ERA in 151 career starts, Fried is a two-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner, a Silver Slugger winner, and a 2021 World Series champion. His success is a source of pride for the Jewish community and a testament to his talent and hard work.

The Yankees are now set to have a strong presence of Jewish players, and Fried's signing is expected to inspire future generations of Jewish athletes.

Jews in Sports This Weekend

IN SOCCER…Manor Solomon and Leeds United will play Preston on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. The squad is currently in second place in the Championship and has won four of its past five games. Matt Turner and his Premier League club Crystal Palace will take on Brighton on Sunday at 9 a.m.IN HOCKEY…Jakob Chychrun and the Washington Capitals will host Jason Zucker and the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Vancouver Canucks, with their three Jewish players - Quinn Hughes, Mark Friedman, and Max Sasson (likely the first Jewish trio to appear in a game for the same team), will host Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins on Saturday at 10 p.m. Jordan Harris and the Columbus Blue Jackets will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday at 5 p.m. There are no PWHL games this weekend.IN FOOTBALL…Michael Dunn and the Cleveland Browns will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at 1 p.m.IN BASKETBALL…Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers will host the San Antonio Spurs tonight at 10 p.m. and face the Phoenix Suns on Sunday at 8 p.m. In the G League, Amari Bailey and the Long Island Nets will face the Capital City Go-Go on Sunday at 3 p.m.

These are some of the exciting matchups to watch this weekend as Jewish athletes continue to make their mark in the sports world.

Jews in Sports: Immigration and Adaptation

Nikki Bick, Rachel Dallet, and Ryan Turell each made aliyah in 2024 to play professional sports in Israel. Nikki Bick and Ryan Turell both played basketball at Yeshiva University with dreams of bigger things. Now, they are playing professionally in Israel, for the men's and women's teams respectively of Ironi Ness Ziona.For them, as well as soccer player Rachel Dallet, the draw of going pro in Israel was strong, even during a war. All three were inspired by a sense of Jewish belonging and the chance to continue their athletic careers at an elite level.Ryan Turell told, "It's always been a dream of mine to play basketball in Israel professionally, ever since I was in high school and I was thinking maybe playing professionally can happen. I always wanted to do it."The three athletes have shared their immigration experiences and how they are adjusting to a new language, culture, and playbook - both on and off the field.

Their stories highlight the determination and passion of Jewish athletes as they pursue their dreams in a different country.

Fantasy Baseball and Jewish Stars

After Max Fried signed, Alex Bregman remains one of the top available players on the free agent market. He is joined by fellow Jews Pillar, Joc Pederson, Harrison Bader, and Rowdy Tellez, each of whom is also looking for a new team.Have a prediction about where these Jewish stars will sign? Email us at sports@jta.org with your official picks - feel free to include years/dollar amounts if you're so bold - and we'll shout out the closest guesses when the players sign!

It's an exciting time for fantasy baseball fans as these Jewish stars could potentially join different teams and make an impact.

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