Alon Leichman

Alon Leichman (born May 29, 1989) is an Israeli baseball pitcher and coach. He currently coaches for Team Israel and serves as Coordinator of Organizational Learning for the Seattle Mariners' player development program. Prior to that Leichman served as the pitching coach for the YD Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League and pitched for UC San Diego Tritons and Cypress College leading them to the 2013 CCCAA state title under head coach Scott Pickler. He coached Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic in March 2017, in South Korea and Japan.

Personal life

Leichman was born in Kibbutz Gezer, Israel, about halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. His parents David Leichman and Marilyn Gold, moved to Israel from Michigan in the 1970s. Leichman has two siblings, Eliora and Arishai. Lechiman graduated from Givat Brenner Regional School in 2007. Following high school, Leichman served three years with the Israel Defense Forces.

Team Israel

During the off-season Leichman competes for the Israeli national baseball team in international tournaments.

European Baseball Championship

Leichman competed for Israel during the qualifying round of the 2010 European Baseball Championship, in 2008. During the opening game, against Bulgaria, Leichman started at shortstop and batted 8th, going 0-for-2 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored, before becoming a relief pitcher giving up 1 run on 1 hit in his 1 inning. During the second game, against Croatia, Leichman was the starting pitcher and went 8 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 earned runs, while walking 5 and striking out 9, before switching to shortstop in the 9th and batted 1-for-4 while striking out 3 times. During the third game, Leichman started at shortstop against Serbia, going 0-for-2 with 2 walks and scoring 2 runs. During the fourth and final game, against Lithuania, Leichman once again played shortstop and batted 5th, going 0-for-4 finishing the qualifier with a .083 batting average.

Leichman competed for Israel during the qualifying round of the 2012 European Baseball Championship, in 2011, and was the designated hitter in all five games. During the opening game, against Georgia, Leichman batted second and got a double in 3 at bats, with 2 RBIs and a walk. During the second game, against Great Britain, batting third, Leichman went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. During the third game, against Lithuania, Leichman batted third and got a double in 4 at bats with a walk, 2 RBIs and a run. In the first game of the home/away finals against Great Britain, Leichman got a double in four at bats with a walk and scored two runs. Later that same day, Leichman batted second, and went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Leichman competed for Israel during the qualifying round of the 2016 European Baseball Championship. During the C-Level qualifier in 2014, Leichman only pitched in the finals game against Slovenia, pitching a complete game shutout, giving up only one hit, while walking 1 and striking out 9. Leichman's only appearance in the B-Level qualifier in 2015 was in the second game, against Poland, where he pitched 8 innings while giving up four earned runs, on eight hits, and struck out 5.

World Baseball Classic

Leichman was on the roster for the Israel during 2013 World Baseball Classic, however he did not make an appearance. He was later the bullpen coach for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier. He returned in the same role for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Playing and coaching career

MLB European Academy

Became the first Israeli to represent Israel in the Academy, which included coaches from MLB such as Barry Larkin, Rod Carew, Lee Smith, and Bruce Hurst.

College

Leichman attended Cypress College from 2010–13, and was a member of the baseball team for three seasons. He was supposed to be the closer for the 2011 season, before popping his elbow during his first appearance. Leichman needed Tommy John surgery, and was out for all of the 2011 season, and pitched only 11.1 innings during 2012. He pitched for the Menlo Park Legends of the California Collegiate League, the summer college league, in order to help recover from Tommy John surgery. While playing he earned the First-Team All-Far West League honors with a 2.18 ERA in 53 2/3 innings. Leichman came back in 2013 to aid the Chargers to a State Championship logging a 1.42 ERA over 31.2 innings, highlighted by a complete-game shutout in a spot start to win the super regional.

Leichman spent three years playing for the UC San Diego Tritons, while getting his history degree at UC San Diego, until graduating in 2016. Leichman aided the team to back to back postseason appearances. Career 3.50 ERA in 122 innings, striking out 85 batters to only 20 walks. As a junior, Leichman made 12 starts and 1 relief appearance, going 7-2 with a 3.71 ERA and walked just nine in 53.1 innings. As a senior, Leichman made 9 starts and 5 relief appearances, working 68.2 innings with 48 strikeouts.

Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox

He served as a pitching coach for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod Baseball League, who won the 2016 championship.

Los Angeles Dodgers organization

The Los Angeles Dodgers recruited Leichman to coach for their organization in the instructional league, helping develop Dodgers pitching prospects, in late 2016.

Seattle Mariners organization

Leichman was named Coordinator of Organizational Learning for the Seattle Mariners' player development program. He will be supporting the minor league managers and coaches with the coaches.