TEL AVIV - Four-Time Major League Baseball All-Star Ian Kinsler has been added to the roster of the Israeli National Baseball Team after his application for Israeli citizenship was approved. Kinsler becomes the most decorated player on the Team Israel roster that will compete for a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

Kinsler, 37, retired from the Major Leagues at the end of last season after playing 14 seasons with five different teams. He played in three World Series and won the championship in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. The veteran second baseman, who received votes for the American League MVP award in four different years, is a star on defense too and won the Gold Glove award in both 2016 and 2018. 

He began his Major League career with the Texas Rangers, which he helped to three consecutive playoff appearances, including the World Series in both 2010 and 2011. Kinsler made three All-Star Games (2008, 2010, 2012) with the Rangers. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers after the 2013 season and played four seasons there, during which he was selected to another All-Star Game (2014) and made another playoff appearance. Kinsler finished his career with a half-season each with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Red Sox and a full season with the San Diego Padres. 

During his Major League career, Kinsler had seven seasons in which he was in the American League top 10 in runs scored, three in the top 10 in hits and three more in the top 10 in steals. He is one of 12 players in MLB history to have recorded at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season twice during his career. Kinsler retired with the most stolen bases (243), second-most hits (1,999) and doubles (416), and fourth-most home runs (257) and RBIs (909) among Jewish players in baseball history. 

"It's every athlete's dream to be able to compete in the Olympics and I'm even more excited to be able to do this playing for Team Israel," Kinsler said. "Wearing Israel's blue and white means more to me than just playing baseball. It means representing a country, a religion and my roots. I can't wait to get started."

Team Israel will compete in baseball at the Olympic Games for the first time. It is the first team to represent Israel at the Olympic Games since 1976 when Israel's national soccer team played in Montreal. The six-team Olympic Baseball Tournament will run from July 29 through August 8.

"I am extremely excited to add Ian to our roster for several reasons," Coach Eric Holtz said. "Obviously, his playing ability speaks for itself, but I’m equally as excited to have his leadership qualities in our dugout."

The Israeli National Baseball Team continues its preparations for the Olympic Games and is in constant contact with the Olympic Committee of Israel.