Joey Goffstein, who served as head bat boy for the Newark Bears, Brooklyn Cyclones and the Israeli National Team, has joined the Yeshiva University Maccabees baseball team for the 2017 college baseball season.

Joey will wear #3 on his jersey and play the outfield. He bats & throws right handed.

Joey recently spoke with Brooklyn Baseball Banter’s Daniel Weiss about joining the YU Macs and the upcoming season.

How does it feel to be playing for the Yeshiva University Maccabees?

I am very happy to play for Yeshiva University. I want to thank Head Coach Frankie Delgado for this amazing opportunity. Through my experiences, it helps me represent the Jewish identity in baseball. I feel like I’m going out there and helping build Jewish baseball.”

Why did you choose #3 as your jersey number?

It was always my number in basketball growing up because I loved Allen Iverson and I stuck with it for baseball in high school. I also love the style of Carl Crawford and Curtis Granderson in the outfield, both of whom wear a number three on their jerseys.

How do you feel about playing at MCU Park against the NYU Violets on April 25?

It’s gonna be very cool. I see it as sort of a homecoming from my days as clubhouse manager and bat boy for the Brooklyn Cyclones. It will also be seven months to the day since Team Israel won the World Baseball Classic Qualifier, at which I was fortunate enough to work as a bat boy.

When I worked for the Cyclones, I used to share batting practice with the guys, so I know the outfield very well. But I’ve never experienced balls coming off of metal bats in the outfield, so it will be slightly different.

There will be a number of familiar faces at MCU Park that day. Between NYU Assistant Coach Tommy Cardona, who worked ticketing when I was there, and Max Colten, who was the head clubhouse manager when I worked there, plus a handful of familiar fans in the stands, it will be a unique experience.

By Daniel Weiss