From New Jersey high school diamonds to the global stage! The upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic is set to ignite the baseball world starting March 5th, and we've got some incredible talent from the Garden State making their mark. These former high school stars are proving that their local fields were just the beginning of their baseball journeys.
But here's where it gets exciting: New Jersey's rich baseball heritage is shining through with several alumni earning coveted spots on national rosters. Let's take a closer look at the New Jersey-bred players who will be representing their countries!
Representing Team Israel
Rob Kaminsky
See AlsoThe British Baseball Revolution: How a Mantra Changed the GameCan the Yankees Beat the Dodgers in 2026? MLB's Economic Powerhouses ClashPhillies Spring Training: 80 Years in Clearwater, FloridaPadres Spring Training: Tracking Jason Adam's Progress and the Team's Plans- High School: St. Joseph (Mont.)
- Current Status: Free Agent
- 2025 Season Snapshot: Kaminsky had a busy 2025, making appearances across various minor league affiliates, including the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals), the Florida Complex League Cardinals, and the Atlantic League's Staten Island FerryHawks. He pitched 17.2 innings with a 5.60 ERA and a 0-3 record, posting a 2.208 WHIP.
- A Look Back: Drafted by the Cardinals in the first round (28th overall) in 2013, Kaminsky was a standout at St. Joseph (Mont.). In his senior year of 2013, he dominated with 64 innings pitched, an astonishing 128 strikeouts, just one earned run, and a perfect 9-0 record. His achievements earned him the prestigious NJ.com Player of the Year title twice.
Jason Marquis (COACH)
- New Jersey Connection: While hailing from Staten Island, New York, Marquis has strong ties to New Jersey, currently serving as an assistant coach at Middletown South High School, where he helped guide the team to a 15-11 record last spring.
- MLB Legacy: Marquis boasts an impressive 15-season MLB career with nine different franchises. He concluded his pitching career with a 4.61 ERA, a 124-118 win-loss record, and 1,174 strikeouts.
- WBC Role: He will be lending his expertise as the pitching coach for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
Representing Team Italy
Kyle Teel
- High School: Mahwah
- MLB Team: Chicago White Sox
- 2025 Season Snapshot: Teel put up solid numbers in 2025, hitting .273 with 8 home runs, 35 RBIs, 11 doubles, and an OPS of .786.
- The Journey: A 2020 graduate of Mahwah, Teel was a Second-Team All-State shortstop in 2019 and was named the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020, also earning First-Team All-State honors that year. His talent led to him being selected 14th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox. He made his highly anticipated MLB debut on June 6, 2025, and secured his first hit in just his second at-bat.
Gordon Graceffo
- High School: Cranford
- MLB Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- 2025 Season Snapshot: Graceffo pitched 43 innings in 2025, holding a 3-1 record, a 6.28 ERA, and striking out 40 batters, with a 1.47 WHIP.
- From Cranford to the Cardinals: After making his MLB debut in 2024, Graceffo appeared in 26 games in 2025. He was a formidable presence at Cranford, pitching nearly 175 innings before graduating in 2018, where he recorded 128 strikeouts. The Cardinals recognized his potential and drafted him in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Villanova.
Ron Marinaccio
- High School: Toms River North
- MLB Team: San Diego Padres
- 2025 Season Snapshot: Marinaccio showcased his pitching prowess in 2025, with 10.2 innings of work, a stellar 0.84 ERA, 12 strikeouts, and an excellent 0.938 WHIP.
- A New Chapter: Marinaccio began his MLB career with the Yankees in the Bronx. After nearly three seasons, he was designated for assignment in September 2024 and later claimed by the White Sox, though he didn't play for them. He spent the 2025 season with the Padres, appearing in seven games.
Andrew Fischer
- High School: Wall
- 2025 Teams: University of Tennessee / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A+)
- 2025 Season Snapshot: Fischer had an outstanding year, playing 65 games for the University of Tennessee, hitting .341 with 74 hits, 70 runs, 25 home runs, 65 RBIs, and an impressive 1.227 OPS. He also played 19 games for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, contributing 1 home run and 10 RBIs.
- Drafted Talent: A Second-Team All-State honoree as a senior at Wall in 2022, Fischer was a force, batting .382 with 22 runs and 27 RBIs in 76 at-bats. His collegiate career at the University of Tennessee was equally remarkable, hitting .307 with 155 runs, 155 RBIs, and 56 homers in 167 games. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the first round (20th overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft. He concluded his 2025 season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Midwest League.
And this is the part most people miss: the sheer dedication and hard work it takes for these athletes to reach such a prestigious international stage. From local fields to the World Baseball Classic, their journeys are inspiring.
What do you think about New Jersey's representation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic? Are there any other former high school stars you're excited to see compete? Let us know in the comments below!
