Andrea Bocelli

The future looks bright for Team Italy catcher Kyle Teel

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

After hitting a home run in his first at bat against USA starter Nolan McLean on March 10, 2026,Team Italy catcher Kyle Teel walked in his second at bat and subsequently suffered a Grade 3 right hamstring strain while running out a double in his final 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) plate appearance. Kyle Teel made the most of his experience on the Azzurri roster, going 4-for-6 in limited action early in the tournament and calling games behind the plate for pitchers Sam Aldegheri and Michael Lorenzen. Teel commented on the Italian-born and developed Los Angeles Angels lefty Aldegheri. “He’s a great pitcher, and doing what he does on the mound and throwing like he can, it just goes to show how big baseball is in Italy and how baseball is a big part of Italian culture.”

Team Italy WBC hitting coach Jorge Posada spoke highly of the Chicago White Sox catcher Teel. “He has a great attitude. He’s prepared, and he looks forward to game time. I see a different Kyle when it’s game time versus when it’s practice. I like him. He knows what he wants to do, and he cares. That’s what you want as a catcher, is people that care. It means a lot to him, being a good catcher behind the plate.”

Kyle Teel enjoyed his time with former MLB all-star catcher Jorge Posada. “I just tried to be a sponge around him. Growing up, watching him at Yankee Stadium, being a Jersey guy and all, it’s really surreal being with him every single day. He’s phenomenal. Just trying to learn about what he likes to do with his routines. He gave me some info when I took my BP. I think it’s really cool to be around a guy like that, a guy I looked up to growing up. It’s just amazing.”

Kyle Teel remembers the Team Italy charter flight from Spring Training in Phoenix to the World Baseball Classic in Houston like it was yesterday. He said, “I’ve never seen anything like what happened on that plane. Just Andrea Bocelli bumping on the speaker. Everyone singing it at the top of their lungs. Nobody sitting in their seats, by the way. It was unbelievable. So much fun.”

Kyle Teel did not discriminate between those Team Italy players born in the USA or Canada and the few from the motherland. He declared, “We all have the same blood, and it was just amazing. I know for some of these guys it was their first time playing on the big stage. But everyone did well. It was great just talking to them every day, getting to know them. And I think that was really important.”

The synergy paid dividends as Team Italy went on to the World Baseball Classic semifinals in Miami after going undefeated in Pool B play in Houston with wins over Brazil, Great Britain, USA and Mexico.

Kyle Teel didn’t return to MLB action until June 22nd after suffering a right knee LCL sprain during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. He later endured another injury setback on July 20th when he suffered a high left ankle sprain. Chicago White Sox GM Chris Getz projects that Teel will reunite with Azzurri teammate Sam Antonacci on the White Sox roster around September 1st. With the Southside anticipating a strong playoff run, Kyle Teel will be a welcome addition to the squad.

The dynamic duo had quite an impact on Team Italy: Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci bring powerful Sox to Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Let’s wish them the best as they make Pope Leo proud. Forza #Italia!

Team Italia catcher Drew Butera having career-best year for defending champion KC Royals

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

Drew Butera
Team Italia catcher Drew Butera is ready for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

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Royals catcher Drew Butera caught the final strike thrown by reliever Wade Davis to capture the 2015 World Series crown.
Known best for his excellent defensive prowess and as a pitcher’s catcher calling games behind the plate, Drew Butera has been experiencing an offensive renaissance for the 2016 Kansas City Royals. Making the most of his 47 at-bats, the 32-year-old Italian American is hitting .298 with six doubles, two homers, four walks and eight RBI. Royals manager Ned Yost has rewarded Butera with more playing time this season by putting regular backstop Salvador Perez in as DH. The Florida-native is the son of Sal Butera—a journeyman catcher who played 359 MLB games for the Blue Jays, Twins, Reds, Expos and Tigers from 1980-1988. Drew was selected by the Blue Jays in the 2002 MLB Draft but instead opted to play at the University of Central Florida. After throwing out 48% of potential base-stealers and hitting .325 in his last season at UCF, Butera was a 2005 fifth-round draft pick by the NY Mets.

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Drew Butera was a strong source of power for Team Italia in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

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Drew Butera played in LA for both the Dodgers (2013-14) and Angels (2015).

A big opera fan who used to listen to Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti in the clubhouse before games while in the Mets’ minor league system, Drew was named Florida League All-Star and subsequently promoted to AA in 2007 before being traded to the Twins—where Butera family history was made as Sal and Drew became the first father-son combination to play for Minnesota when he made his MLB debut on April 9, 2010. Being able to handle pitches with grace rarely seen at the Major League level while producing a calming effect on his pitching staff, Drew Butera kept lefty Francisco Liriano focused on every pitch which led him to a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox on May 3, 2011. While playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 25, 2014, Butera caught Josh Beckett’s no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies and became only the fifth catcher in Major League Baseball history to catch a no-hitter in both leagues.

baseball-ItaliaButera was a big hit for Team Italia in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Delivering a two-run home run that helped defeat Mexico and a two-run double that buried Canada, Drew was instrumental in each of Team Italia’s victories to earn la squadra Azzurri the right to advance with Team USA to the second round of play.

world-baseball-classicDrew Butera cannot wait to suit up for Team Italia in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He spoke enthusiastically about playing for manager Marco Mazzieri’s eclectic mix of talented Italian-born players and MLB-affiliated Italian American passport holders. Butera said, “It was a great experience for me personally. To experience it for myself, there’s really no word that could describe it: the intensity, the passion of the games, just the amount of fun that we had. It was really great.”