Alex Katz (baseball)

Alexander Benjamin Katz (October 12, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Katz was born in Manhasset, New York, and attended Herricks High School.He pitched for the St. John's Red Storm, where he was a part of the team that won the 2015 Big East Regular Season and Tournament.
Katz was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 27th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.
In 2015, at the age of 20, he pitched for the Great Falls Voyagers of the Rookie Pioneer League, and for the Arizona League White Sox of the Rookie Arizona League. He was a combined 0-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 4 saves, and in 32.2 innings he struck out 40 batters.
In 2016, he pitched for the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Class A South Atlantic League, and the Winston-Salem Dash of the A+ Carolina League. He was a combined 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA and 2 saves, as in 55 innings he struck out 57.
Katz was on the roster for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier, but did not make an appearance during the tournament. On January 12, Katz announced that he will be on the Team Israel roster for the first round of the World Baseball Classic.

Katz went to Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, New York, where he pitched and played first base/outfield. He was an all-league selection as a junior, and named all-county, second team All-Long Island, 2012 honorable mention Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason All-America, Perfect Game first team All-Northeast Region, MVP of the Nassau County Exceptional Senior Game, and won the pitching award for the RTC Grand Slam Challenge (Long Island All-Star Game). He graduated in 2012.

Katz then pitched for the St. John's Red Storm, attending the school on a baseball and academic scholarship, while majoring in sports management and minoring in business. As a freshman, Katz made 22 appearances, including two starts, and went 1-3 with one save and a 5.33 ERA. During the summer of 2013, Katz pitched in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League and the Cape Cod Baseball League. Baseball America named Katz the top pitching prospect in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League for that season. As a Sophomore, Katz appeared in 16 games, including nine starts, and went 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 42.0 innings of work. On April 2, 2014, Katz started and struck out five in 6.0 scoreless innings of no-hit ball to earn the win as part of a combined one-hit shutout at Wagner. As a Junior, Katz appeared in 19 games, including 6 starts, and went 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 55.2 innings of work. In March 2015, Katz was named the Big East Conference Pitcher of the Week after striking out 13 batters in 7.0 scoreless innings in a pair of appearances that helped St. John's post consecutive shutouts in a two-game week. Katz, who made one start and one relief appearance, had a career-high 13 strikeouts in 6.0 scoreless frames to earn the win in a start against Fairfield (March 17). Katz then added 1.0 shutout inning against Central Connecticut (March 22). The lefty surrendered just one hit in his two appearances to limit the opposition to a .048 batting average (1-for-21). Katz was part of the St. John's Red Storm baseball team that won the 2015 Big East Regular Season and Tournament.

Katz was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 27th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.

In 2015, at the age of 20, he pitched for the Great Falls Voyagers of the Rookie Pioneer League, and for the Arizona League White Sox of the Rookie Arizona League. He was a combined 0-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 4 saves, as in 32.2 innings he struck out 40 batters.

In 2016, he pitched for the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Class A South Atlantic League, and the Winston-Salem Dash of the A+ Carolina League. He was a combined 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA and 2 saves, and in 55 innings he struck out 57.

Katz was on the roster for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier, but did not make an appearance during the tournament. On January 12, Katz announced that he will be on the Team Israel roster for the first round of the World Baseball Classic.