Andrés Annunziata

Premier12 Qualifier leads to LA28 for Team Italy

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment
Team Italy came from behind to defeat the Kingdom of the Netherlands 4-3 to win its first ever Haarlem Baseball Week Championship title on July 4, 2026

After a historic run all the way to the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals in Miami under the guidance of Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli, the Azzurri continue to make history with an impressive showing at Haarlem Baseball Week. During the international tournament, Italian captain Alberto Mineo was third in batting average (.389) as well as on-base percentage (.476) and fifth in slugging (.556), while teammate Miguel Fabrizio was seventh in both batting average (.368) and on-base percentage (.400) and eighth in slugging (.474). However, the highlight reel went to Robel Garcia, who came through in the clutch in the championship game against the Dutch with a three-run home run in the eighth inning to thrust the Italians to become the first non-Japan, non-Kingdom of the Netherlands and non-USA winner of the tourney since 1992.Other offensive weapons included Andres Annunziata (.364 batting average) and Gabriele Angioi (.333 batting average, two doubles, two stolen bases).

Starting pitchers Mattia Aldegheri (2 GS, 1-0, 11.1 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K, 0.00 ERA), Matteo Bocchi (2 GS, 1-0, 11.1 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA) and Davide Montanari (1 GS, 0-0, 6 IP, H, 2 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA) were top performers, while relievers Alex Bassani (3 APP, 2 SV, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K), Omar Benelli (1 APP, 2 IP, 0 H, BB, 3 K), Gennaro Coviello (3 APP, SV, 3.2 IP, H, BB, 2 K) and Juan Carlos Infante Jr. (2 APP, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K) did not allow an earned run during Haarlem Baseball Week.

The Italians will be put to the test against Colombia, Spain and Germany at the Premier12 Qualifier in Barcelona from October 9-11, 2026. There has been limited amount of interaction in the past between the teams competing for the chance to join the world’s elite in the 2027 Premier12. A couple years ago, Spain beat the Azzurri 13-4 in the 2024 Haarlem Baseball Week fifth-place game. More recently in the 2025 European Baseball Championship Quarterfinals, Team Italy defeated Germany 1-0 after starter Gabriele Quattrini pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts and relievers Marco Artitzu and Alex Bassani kept the Germans off the board for the remainder of the contest to preserve the shutout victory.

The Premier12 will expand to 16 teams in 2027 with the two top teams from the Barcelona Qualifier and the Zhongshan, China Qualifier (featuring China, Czech Republic, Nicaragua and Great Britain) joining the 12 teams that automatically qualified through the 2025 WBSC Men’s Baseball Ranking (Japan, Chinese Taipei, USA, South Korea, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Cuba, Australia and the Dominican Republic).

The Road to LA28 for Team Italy begins at the Premier12 Qualifier in Barcelona.as the top 2027 Premier12 teams from Asia and Europe will punch their tickets to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The Italians have participated in four Summer Olympics to date (1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004). The Azzurri launched #ClubItaliaLA28 under the leadership of former Team Italy manager and National Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza over two years to prepare aspiring up-and-coming prospects for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

One additional spot for LA28 will be awarded to the winner of a six-team global qualification tournament in 2028. The participants will be the two best teams (not yet qualified) from the upcoming Asian Championship, the two best teams (not yet qualified) from the upcoming European Championship, the best team (not yet qualified) from the upcoming African Championship and the best team (not yet qualified) from the upcoming Oceania Championship. Forza #Italia!

Team Italy Catchers in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

Kyle Teel was selected in the 1st round (14th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox out of the University of Virginia. He received the 2023 Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, which recognizes the nation’s top catcher. His .407 batting average was one of the highest single-season averages in school history, earning him 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and Consensus College Baseball All-American honors.

Teel quickly advanced through the Boston minor league system and in December 2024 was part of a trade that sent him to the Chicago White Sox organization as a top prospect. He made his MLB debut on June 6, 2025 and showed lightning power when hitting eight home runs with a .273 batting average and 35 RBI for the remainder of the season. The fast-rising left-handed hitting star has demonstrated an advanced hitting approach and the ability to work counts to get on base, where he excels with smart base running tactics. His leadership, skilled game management and precision (only five errors in 501 innings ) behind the plate makes him a strong defensive weapon as well.

J.J. D’Orazio was signed as a non-drafted international free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays in July 2018 out of Venezuela. He made his professional debut in 2019, splitting time between the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays and Rookie League before being shut out of baseball in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, after beginning the season in the Blue Jays’ complex leagues and Low-A, D’Orazio was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played Single-A ball in 2022 before moving up to High-A (where he named NWL Player of the Week and hit over .300 with power) and Double-A in 2023. D’Orazio has since remained the everyday catcher for the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles and put together a .221 batting average with 50 RBI and eight home runs last season with 50 RBI and 8 home runs. In December 2025, He was signed by the Los Angeles Angels in late 2025 after a successful campaign for Tigres De Aragua in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. The proud Italian Venezuelan has shown the ability to influence games with both his power at the plate and his intelligence in working with pitchers behind the dish.

Mickey Gasper is a 30-year-old Boston Red Sox utility player, who was claimed off waivers from the Washington Nationals on February 4, 2026. He was selected by the New York Yankees in the 27th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Bryant University, where he developed into one of the Northeast Conference’s top hitters, batting .344 with 17 home runs and 119 RBI over four seasons.

Gaspar spent several seasons developing in the Yankees’ minor-league system before being selected by the Boston Red Sox in the minor league phase of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft. His breakout season came in 2024 when he hit .328 with a .439 on-base percentage across Double-A and Triple-A. His performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues, and he made his MLB debut on August 12, 2024 with the Red Sox.

After the 2024 season, Gasper was traded to the Minnesota Twins, where he made the club’s Opening Day roster in 2025 and appeared in 45 games. During the 2025 season he hit .158 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI while splitting time between catcher, first base, second base, designated hitter, and left field. In 2026, the proud Italian American was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals, continuing his role as a versatile depth player capable of filling multiple positions.

Andrés Annunziata is a 20-year-old Italian prospect who has developed through the youth system of Nettuno Baseball Club 1945 and has been playing well recently in Serie A ball. Known for his versatility, the Team Italy backstop has played catcher, first base, and the outfield while showing strong offensive production at a young age. In 2024, he posted one of his best seasons with Nettuno, batting .392 with a 1.026 OPS, continuing his rise as one of Italy’s promising young hitters. The Azzurri bullpen catcher is ready to step up to the big stage should the Italians need him in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.