Aug 21

Aug 21 Palestinian you should know: Zaki Haj

Palestine in America, Sports Edition, You Should Know, Q&A, Print Issue, Blog, Podcast

The following is from the special “Baseball Edition” of Palestine in America. The print edition of this magazine is exclusively for our subscribers. The digital version is available to the public for $2.

Zaki Haj has been pitching for the Palestinian national baseball team since 2021 and has thrown as fast as 91 miles per hour.

Haj, whose lineage traces back to Beitunia (a village near Ramallah), notched three strikeouts in three innings on the mound during the West Asia Cup. He most recently pitched for Florida National University.

Palestine in America spoke to Haj about who influenced him, what he hopes to achieve and what he expects from the team moving forward. You can listen to the full interview on our podcast on Spotify or YouTube.

Palestine in America [PiA]: Where are your parents from?

Zaki Haj [ZH]: My father, [his family] is from Beitunia, [but he was] born in Chicago. And my mother was born in Amman and came to Chicago when my parents got married.

PiA: Who introduced you to baseball?

ZH: My grandfather was the one that introduced me to baseball. He came from another country and learned another sport that was and is still called an “American Sport.” [He] taught me how to throw a baseball and how to hold a bat since I could stand up on both feet.

PiA: What’s the highest level you've competed at?

ZH: The highest level I have competed at right now is college baseball, soon to pick up some sort of professional opportunity as my end goal.

PiA: How would you compare that to playing internationally and representing Palestine?

ZH: Definitely two different atmospheres, but I could say playing and representing my country brings some uncommon fuel that you didn’t know you had, that really brings you upwards, knowing you’re fighting and playing for your country. Knowing something is on the line is what really brings the fight and meaning of baseball to our country now.

PiA: What are your expectations for the team the rest of this calendar year?

ZH: My expectations are always at its all time highest, but I always expect us to come out to any international game hungrier and more prepared than what we were in the last tournament. The goal and expectation is to progress in every category as we build a strong national team.

PiA: Where do you see the Palestinian national team in five years?

ZH: In five years I potentially see us in the WBC [World Baseball Classic] column, whether it be a qualifier round or an elimination game. We will be a part of the WBC in the next five years, as our rankings keep going higher and higher by the year.

PiA: What is your favorite team, and who is your favorite player?

ZH: My favorite team is the Chicago Cubs, and my favorite baseball player is now on the Cubs and it’s Marcus Stroman. He has always been my all-time favorite, from how he carries himself on and off the field. His chip on his shoulder and his phrase “HDMH” (Height Doesn’t Measure Heart) has been something I’ve carried with me my whole career. It’s more than the game.