The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed the first-ever Israeli to earn a contract with a Major League baseball team.
Dean Kremer, a 20-year-old pitcher, has played for Israel's national baseball team for the past three years and has helped Israel gain promotion from Europe's third division.
He has also been voted Europe's most valuable pitcher for the past two seasons.
The Dodgers signed Mr Kremer on Tuesday after selecting him in the annual draft of new players earlier this month.
Mr Kremer, a native of Stockton, California, who was born to Israeli parents, became the first Israeli to be drafted by an MLB team last year when he was selected by the San Diego Padres. However, he did not sign for the team.
Mr Kremer has played for Israel's national baseball team for the past three years.
He said: "I was born here in the United States, but I go back and practically live [in Israel] for two months out of the year in the summer, so it's definitely home."
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