The Jewish Link and Drink Up would like to recognize Daniel Eckman as this week’s Sportstar of the Week. The Yavneh Academy eighth grader loves baseball and is a die-hard Yankees fan. But even more so than watching, Daniel loves to play baseball. When asked about Eckman, coach Aharon Goldwasser told The Jewish Link, “As the second baseman and star pitcher for the Humble Toast Chefs, Daniel recently led his team to the 2021 TBO championship. In addition to his heroics on the field, Daniel is a star off the field as well. Daniel is always the first person to cheer on or congratulate a teammate. When a teammate makes a mistake, Daniel is always there to pick him up. Daniel truly is a sports star, both on and off the field.”
Daniel, mazel tov on your upcoming bar mitzvah and congrats on being recognized as this week’s Sportstar of the Week! Who is your role model and why?
My parents because they push me to be my best self.
What is your favorite sport?
Baseball because I enjoy playing with a team and I have been playing baseball ever since I was a very small kid.
What is your pregame routine?
Have a catch with a teammate.
What is your greatest sports accomplishment?
Winning a travel championship in the summer after second grade.
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
Derek Jeter, because he was a great player on the field and a great person off the field.
What is your favorite sports memory?
Visiting 25 major league baseball stadiums and running the bases at some of them.
What is your earliest sports memory?
When I was 4 years old, David Price threw me a baseball at a Yankees game during batting practice.
What is the weirdest thing that has happened to you while playing ball?
I was at a Philadelphia Phillies game a few years ago. There was a man on first base. The batter swung and missed and his bat flew into our section. The catcher tried picking off the runner at first, but the first baseman was watching the bat fly into our section. The ball went down the right field line and the runner scored from first.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not playing sports?
Hang out with friends and play video games.
What is the best thing about being a Sportstar?
Being the first Sportstar in my family.
The Drink Up Jewish Link Sportstar of the Week will receive a 5% discount on their next order @Drink Up, order with https://forms.gle/yZy37A5hkHwhS3B88 at https://drinkitup.us/ or message Steve @ 201 578 7425. Please send nominees for an upcoming Drink Up Jewish Link Sportstar of the Week to [email protected].
