Amazing moment as Long Island native Jacob Steinmetz becomes the first Orthodox Jewish athlete to get selected in the MLB Draft pic.twitter.com/giZgs8GELh
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) July 12, 2021
It’s one thing to get drafted in the third round as a Long Island native, it’s another when your high school doesn’t have a spring season, but what Jacob Steinmetz did was become a trailblazer. The 6’6 Woodmere-native became the first Orthodox Jewish athlete to get selected in the MLB Draft. To say it was against all odds would be an understatement – especially considering less than two years ago he was a virtual unknown that was looking to pitch at the collegiate level.
Over the past year, his stock has soared meteorically as his fastball has increased and the data has only helped improved his stock. With the proliferation of devices like Rapsodo, teams could monitor his progress and rather than using the “eyeball test” and see that his curveball is sharp, they can see that it’s elite with RPMs consistently in the 2800s and it doesn’t hurt to throw in the mid 90s with virtually no mileage on the arm. As you can see in the video below, this is a pro curveball. So my from perspective, it’s not exactly a shock that a pro team was impressed.
Fordham-commit Jacob Steinmetz with a strikeout on an 83 MPH curveball at the MLB Combine. Perfect Game has a 4th round grade on the Long Island native pic.twitter.com/mjEvUP4Uyx
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) June 27, 2021
With the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 season at Hebrew Academy Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR), his father sent him to play at Elev8 Academy in Del Ray Beach and it was a terrific decision as he was able to not only stay sharp, but excel against top competition in the Sunshine State.
He was committed to Fordham, but after getting selected high in the MLB Draft, it would be tough to imagine if stepping foot on campus.
Regardless, it’s a tremendous accomplishment for Jacob and his family who sacrificed a lot to be in the situation he is in.
