The Israel Baseball League, which celebrated their premier season in 2007, has set the opening day 2008 for June 22. Games between IBL champion Bet Shemesh Blue Sox and Modi’in Miracle, in addition to Tel Aviv Lightning and Jerusalem Lions will kick off the schedule.
The Lions are a new in the league, as the Petach Tikva franchise was moved to the capitol of Israel. They will play their home games at the Gezer Field, 25 minutes outside of Jerusalem. They are planning to open a new ballpark for the 2010 season.
The initial season of the IBL was a big success as several players used this platform to show their skills and they found jobs in leagues all over the world afterwards. League-MVP Eladio RODRIGUEZ and Jason REES signed with the New York Yankees organization. Rafael BERGSTROM and Jason BENSON are joining Atlantic League Clubs. Josh DOAN and Noah WALKER were invited to the Red Sox spring training camp. Juan FELICIANO won the Dominican Winter League title with Aguilas Cibaenas and will play for Monterrey in the Mexican Summer League. Maximo NELSON will try his luck with the Japanese champion Chunichi Dragons. And Adalberto PAULINO is the new center fielder for the German team Haar Disciples during the upcoming season.
With their strong partnership with Major League Baseball the IBL is bound for a bright future. The former general manager of the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos, Dan DUQUETTE, who is the Director of Baseball Operations, is currently organising tryout camps in the United States and the Dominican Republic to recruit new members for the six teams.
