4 Palestinian players selected for Baseball United UAE Series
Steven Mufareh, Syam Lafi, Yunis Halim and Dylan Ahmad were selected to play in Baseball United’s UAE Series.
Halim, who has been dubbed the Shohei Ohtani of Palestine’s national team by Taiwanese media members, will make his second Baseball United appearance, while Lafi, Mufareh and Ahmad will make their debut when the series begins on Valentine’s Day.
Baseball United is the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent and the UAE Series is their second of its kind.
The four Palestinians will play for the MidEast Falcons and compete against the Arabia Wolves in a three-game series from Feb. 14-16.
“Representing the Mideast Falcons with three of my other teammates is a huge accomplishment for [the Palestine Baseball & Softball Federation],” Halim told Palestine in America. “This will be amazing for my teammates to experience a real professional experience with many superstars.”
Halim says it's an honor to be invited by Baseball United and is eager for his teammates to learn from and play with some of the game’s greatest players.
“It was a dream come true to walk out onto the field with legends like Robinson Cano, Didi and many other stars,” Haleem said of his first time playing with Baseball United.
Lafi, an infielder, and Ahmad, an outfielder, caught the attention of Baseball United most recently when they represented Palestine’s national team during the Arab Classic in Dubai, last November. They both were selected to the All-Tournament Team for their performance, most notably Ahmad’s towering home run against Sri Lanka during group play. Lafi's leadership on the field, defensive prowess and knack for getting on base made him an another easy selection for Baseball United.
Mufareh, Palestine’s star pitcher, also competed at the Arab Classic, but his dominant performance at the Asia Championships in Taiwan in 2023 is what set him apart from the pack. He went 2-0 with a 0.00 era and swept the pitching awards in a tournament that included three of the top five teams in the world (Japan, Chinese Teipai and South Korea).
When Baseball United hosted its inaugural series in 2023, Haleem was the only player representing Palestine. Haleem put himself on BU’s radar when he competed in the West Asia Cup in Islamabad, Pakistan where he helped lead Palestine to a second place finish.
The Wolves roster will include former Miami Marlins pitcher Severino Gonzalez and World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval, while the Palestinians will be teamed up with Cano, Gregorius and former Atlanta Braves Jair Jurrjens.
People in the United States can watch the series on MLB.TV or Baseball United’s YouTube channel.
