Former Cardinal Harrison Bader homers as Team Israel falls to Venezuela in World Baseball Classic opener

St. Louis connections run through Israel’s roster and coaching staff at the Miami tournament

JNS Staff

Published March 8, 2026

Mar 7, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Israel center fielder Harrison Bader (2) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Venezuela during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

MIAMI — If Team Israel is going to make another miracle run in the World Baseball Classic, it will have to start a day late.

Fourth-seeded Venezuela, one of the favorites to win the tournament, defeated Israel 11-3 on Saturday night at loanDepot park, scoring four runs in the first inning and never trailing.

For St. Louis baseball fans following the team, one familiar name still managed to make an impact late in the game.

Former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader hit a solo home run in the ninth inning, accounting for one of Israel’s final runs of the night.

Earlier in the game, a first-inning double by Venezuela’s Luis Arraez slipped past Bader on a diving play in center field, helping ignite the early rally that put Israel in a quick deficit.

“It was just all Venezuela,” Team Israel manager Brad Ausmus said after the game.

Venezuela starting pitcher Enmanuel De Jesus struck out four of the first six batters he faced and retired the first 14 hitters before Israel finally broke through in the fifth inning.

Catcher Garrett Stubbs delivered Israel’s first hit with a two-out triple down the right-field line. Moments later, Matt Mervis brought him home on a slow roller to the right side of the infield that resulted in Israel’s first run.

In the sixth inning, outfielder RJ Schreck added a solo home run to right field, briefly giving Israel some momentum.

But Venezuela quickly responded in the bottom of the inning. Three walks issued by pitcher Daniel Federman, followed by a two-run single and a three-run home run by Arraez — his second homer of the night — put the game out of reach.

Israel’s roster and coaching staff include several connections familiar to St. Louis baseball followers.

Along with Bader, pitcher Matt Bowman previously pitched for the Cardinals, while pitcher Rob Kaminsky was a first-round draft pick by St. Louis in 2013.

The coaching staff also features former Cardinals starter Jason Marquis, part of the club’s 2006 World Series championship team, serving as bullpen coach. Another coach, Jason Bell, grew up in Chesterfield and now serves as Israel’s first base coach. Former major league infielder Mark Loretta is the team’s third base coach.

Despite the opening loss, Ausmus said the team showed some encouraging signs late.

“The one real positive takeaway is we swung the bat a little bit better as the game went on,” he said. “There is something to be said about guys getting comfortable in this atmosphere.”

Israel continues Pool D play Sunday against Nicaragua.