Major League Baseball

Tweets about Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

FIBS President Marco Mazzieri reflects on Team Italy in 2026 World Baseball Classic

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment
President Marco Mazzieri brings new life to Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball

Roberto Angotti: After two wins over Brazil and Great Britain, what emotions are you feeling? 

Marco Mazzieri: The joy, the gratitude, the emotions are unreal right now. But I think we should start from the very beginning about 14 months ago when I made the call to Ned Colletti and ask him if it would help me with this adventure. His excitement was second to none and his commitment since he’s been really something extraordinary. You know he is a big name in the industry of sport in the U.S. Having worked in the Chicago Cubs’ front office (1982-1993) and then becoming the San Francisco Giants’ Assistant General Manager (1994-2004) and later the Los Angeles Dodgers’ General Manager (2006-2014), there is a lot of experience he brings to Team Italy. For him to talk with the agents, the players and the franchise general managers on a one-on-one, face-to-face basis made it kind of easier for me to be able to put this roster and remarkable coaching staff that possesses 21 Word Series rings all together. Not only that, it’s the passion, the leadership, the commitment, the determination and the joy that they bring. To be able to share their knowledge is what makes it special for these players. We have quite a special group of people first, and then, very good players. Our rotation is deep and our lineup, I mean, you’ve seen it for these past two games. The veteran guys and the young ones are doing their job. So it’s very, very special. 

Team Italy GM Ned Colletti speaks to the Azzurri squad and staff at Cubs Spring Training Camp in Mesa, Arizona

Roberto Angotti: Team Italy has always been looking upon as the underdog, always fighting as if it’s do-or-die. Does that still apply to this group?

Marco Mazzieri: Yeah, but I would say we don’t mind being the underdog. Throughout my days as Team Italy manager, the Italians were always considered an afterthought. In fact, from the very beginning when all our ancestors came from Italy, they were an afterthought back in the past. But at the same time, they helped build this country. So I think that the pride, commitment and determination of those people who sacrificed everything is what makes these players even more appreciative of being here. I think being the underdog is something that we enjoy because we enjoy overcoming adversities. It’s always been hard for us. The WBC brackets have always been tough for us since the very beginning and we always showed up playing our best. By winning our first two games against Brazil and Great Britain, we have now qualified to appear in our sixth consecutive WBC, which I consider something very special. That was the first step, but now we’re shooting for the next round. 

Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli

Roberto Angotti: Having secured the silver medal in the 2025 European Baseball Championship, Team Italy has a lot of momentum coming into the 2026 World Baseball Classic under manager Francisco Cervelli. What is the winning formula? 

Marco Mazzieri: Let me go back to the beginning of this interview when I told you that the first thing was to call Ned Colletti to help me in putting this roster together. The next step was making a second call to Francisco Cervelli, who from the very beginning of our relationship when he played for me in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as a young prospect at the time. He told me one day that he would be our manager. So it gives me goosebumps by reflecting on this memory 17 years ago. He told me that then and now he is the Team Italy manager and doing a great job. His passion and energy is just second to none. It rubs off on the impact on the players every day. He really cares for his players and what he did last year in the Euros with Team Italy is a sporting miracle, resurrecting from ninth place in the prior edition to a second place finish in 2025. He drove up and down the country to look for the best players in Italy. He discovered some gold along the way because nobody knew about some of them. One day he called me from Parma and said he was watching a second level team. He told me that he was watching this kid taking batting practice and he was hitting the ball like an MLB MVP. We helped develop Giaconino Lasaracina into a prospect who recently signed a professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. It is very special for him. A 22-year-old signing a contract with a competitive major league club is to the credit of Francisco Cervelli. What he did was excellent. The team would go to war for him, and the way they played really showed. These guys are pretty much doing the same thing. So, it’s about how much you care for the players. If you want them to give you all they got, you need to show them you really care.

Team Italy pitcher Gabriele Quattrini
Team Italy pitcher Claudio Scotti

Roberto Angotti: The World Baseball Classic has always been a platform for Italian players to shine. Who are some of the players that have impressed you the most? 

Marco Mazzieri: Gabriele Quattrini and Claudio Scotti are on this roster, but we miss our team captain at home, Alberto Mineo. It’s not the same without him and we are really sorry that he couldn’t be here. He would have shown us his leadership. But Gabriele Quattrini and Claudio Scotti have risen to the occasion.  I mean, pitching at this level with no fear and throwing strikes getting people out. Gabriele Quattrini earned the win against Great Britain (1.1 IP, H, BB, K) and ended his outing with a strikeout. It was very, very gratifying for us. All these guys are here to develop. We will possibly see more and more players from Italy making this WBC roster. Because that’s what it’s all about. Vinnie Pasquantino said it best when he revealed that these guys are not only here to win and to compete, but they’re here to give hope to Italian players and help grow the game. It’s always been that way and the fact that they’re really excited in helping the progress program while getting the best result is great.

Dave Righetti, Alessandro Maestri, Drew Rossi, Frank Menechino, Sal Fasano, Jack Santora and Jorge Posada

Roberto Angotti: Team Italy has a dream team MLB All-Star coaching staff. What was your reaction when seeing the names in print for the first time? 

Marco Mazzieri: I grew up watching all of them on television. So you can imagine for me what this means for me. During my managing time. Mike Hargrove, Tom Trebelhorn, Nick Punto and all the great coaches that I have worked with have been a blessing. But this WBC coaching staff is the top of the top. It doesn’t get any better than Francisco Cervelli, Jorge Posada, Dave Righetti, Ron Wotus, Frank Menechino, Sal Fasano, Allard Baird, Alessandro Maestri, Jack Santora and Lipso Nava. All because of their love of the game and their love of Italy. There are so many things that go into it. That makes it extraordinary to me because everything is coming together in such a short time. That is kind of gratifying for me as a president. I hope that the people back home will understand what this means as a forward step in our progress with these players on the roster.

Bill Holmberg

Roberto Angotti: Italian Baseball Hall of Famer and former FIBS Academy Director Bill Holmberg must be looking down from heaven and smiling at what you have done. 

Marco Mazzieri: He was a great man who was always about growing the game in Italy. Bill Holmberg was always looking at how to improve baseball at all levels. I’m sure he is very happy from up there to see Alessandro Maestri being the pitching coach because of the hard work he put into him. You know, of all those years that I have been managing, I think that we have built a legacy with former players turned coaches like Jack Santora, Frank Catalanotto and Nick Punto. I would love to get Alex Liddi to join us as he is like a son to me. We want and need to make Italy proud.

Team Italy and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Sam Aldegheri

Roberto Angotti: Please give me your thoughts on Samuel Aldegheri after his outstanding pitching performance against Brazil (4.2 IP, H, BB, 8 K).

Marco Mazzieri: It’s hard to find the right words to describe the kind of performance that he had. There’s a lot of pressure in the WBC opening game. Of course, it’s a must-win game. Instead of staying back in Arizona at Angels Spring Training trying to secure a place in the pitching rotation, he decided to come out and represent his country. It says a lot, it shows a lot and the way he performed, I think put himself in a good position to get a rotation spot for the Angels. He  painted the corners and had great control on the mound.  He just couldn’t do any better. I mean, that’s one of the best performances in the World Baseball Classic that I have ever seen. 

Roberto Angotti: Team Italy and Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel also called a great game behind the plate.

Marco Mazzieri: We knew that coming in the WBC. Kyle Teel is the kind of player that is demonstrating his outstanding power and potential here. But the excitement, passion and determination to play for this team is even more impressive. It was hard to sit him out of the lineup yesterday, but we had to because the Chicago White Sox Club didn’t want him to catch back-to-back games in early March. He was a bull in the pen because he wanted to play and that shows a lot.  

Roberto Angotti: The Kansas City Royals and Nick Leto, Director of Royals’ Minor League Operations, have been good to Team Italy with the addition of Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone. 

Marco Mazzieri: Nick Leto has always been a friend to Italian baseball, and our program. He has always been of a lot of help in many different ways. By having Jac Caglianone and, of course, our captain Vinnie Pasquantino has made it special. Vinnie has embraced the captain role with grace and commitment.  I don’t have enough words to thank Vinnie, Jac, Nick, and the entire Royals organization for allowing their players to come here and be the pros that they are. 

Roberto Angotti: Any final words for everyone in Italy watching the WBC? 

Marco Mazzieri: Give us time. We have an idea and we know what to do. But, you know, things don’t change in a heartbeat. We are trying to do good things with good people. We have the right people to get the job done, but we need time. So be patient. Before commenting or criticizing all the time, just see what you have in front of you.

Roberto Angotti: Thank you for making history! Forza Italia…

Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli speaks before the 2026 World Baseball Classic 

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

How can the World Baseball Classic help the growth and development of the game in Italy?

It’s great. This is part of the larger mission of the game. In the future, we want more Italians on this team. We want to elevate the level of the game and give them more playing time. That’s the question mark all the time. You get five or six months during spring and summer then you lose everything. You don’t do anything in winter. It’s a problem. So you try to figure out a way to keep the players active in tournaments outside Italy in Asia or the Dominican Republic. But the WBC is good for us now. I love it. 

After the two pre-WBC exhibition games against the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Angels, what have you learned about the Team Italy players?  

There is talent on this team. They are prospects. And the good part is even if they’re not playing and not in the lineup, every time I walk by they look at me. Like they’re waiting to hear when I might be calling on them. They are very aggressive and run the bases well. We have got speed. My idea and the way I like to play baseball is by attacking, attacking, attacking… A lot of guys that can hit for power, and they can hit for extra bases. But the team is solid, and those kids are real players. 

Los Angeles Angeles pitcher Samuel Aldeghieri is an Italian-born and developed player proudly representing his country in the WBC. How has his participation given baseball a boost in Italy?

It means a lot, you know, it  means like we’re doing something right. He earned it and is the face of Italian baseball right now.  I hope we get more like him playing professionally. Unfortunately, due to injury, we don’t have San Marino’s Alessandro Ercolani, who plays Double-A ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. I hope we can have more guys like Giaconino Lasarcina, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays just a few days ago. He is a power guy and very impressive. So we want to get  more guys like him here in the U.S. They need to come here and learn how to play competitively to get them to take it to the next level. They may miss home because Italy is beautiful, but they need to play in the states where this sport is great. They have got to be able to be here for a long time. 

How can Italian players attending U.S. colleges increase their chances of playing professionally? 

The shift over the last four or five years is more college players being taken in the draft. American college baseball has a much higher level of development. We need to take our 16 or 17 year old kids and somehow get into that track. I would love our Italian players to go to college. First because you know, I come from Venezuela, where we got no Plan B. It’s either we get signed and play professionally or you go back home. It’s embarrassing to be sent home because there is no Plan B. I would love Italian players to have a Plan B by learning English and earning their college degree. Then they are also able to play baseball by signing a professional contract at 21 or 22 years old. There are more guys going to college now and it’s a great opportunity. We have a young core of 16 to 17-year-old players in Italy. They are able to sign as a professional so we’re looking forward to getting more young guys on board by signing early so that they can develop quickly. 

How can we get more Italian children to learn to play and love baseball? 

In Italy it is a challenge to find a kid and tell him “Let’s go play baseball.” So what we are doing is introducing Baseball5 in Elementary School, where kids learn the basics of baseball. They like it and eventually we bring them onto the field to play the game. Baseball is probably the hardest sport. It’s not easy to hit, right? You give a kid a bat, and they start swinging and missing. When they don’t have success, they’re going to quit. Baseball5 is the pathway to bring them to the field. So now we have got a bunch of kids playing baseball and also have little girls playing softball. 

Tell us about the success you have had with the Francisco Cervelli/IABF Baseball Academy in Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto). 

It’s great. I have had an amazing time. We go to tournaments in Europe and last year our team represented Italy at the Pony League World Series in the U.S. The players had a blast.  That’s what we’re looking for is to give them opportunities to play at higher levels of the game at a young age. Not only are they playing in Italy or Europe, but they compete abroad in the U.S. and other parts of the world. 

Describe your experience during the first year as the manager and leader for Team Italy.

Well, the first year has been a learning year, trying to understand how to make things work successfully in the WBC and beyond. My idea is to make noise. This is the thing, not only just to make some noise, but creating an impact where the people in Italy know what we’re doing. And they start to believe in it because it’s a process. This is not something that you can develop in two years.I am hoping and looking forward to getting a big result here. it’s going to help everything. Whatever you do right here in the WBC, the noise you make, you can feel it deep down in your heart and soul. That’s what we’re trying to do, make noise, and make people  believe and understand what we do. Then we can explain to them what we do and keep this movement growing. 

What are some of your pitching options in the World Baseball Classic? 

We have many pitchers that fill different roles. The challenge in the World Baseball Classic, especially in the first round, is that guys cannot throw back-to-back games as it is early in the year so we have to be able to manage their pitch count. As far as closers, Greg Weissert or Kyle Nicolas are ready. Then you have guys that can give you multiple Innings like Gabriele Quattrini. You saw him pitch really well against the Los Angeles Angels. You know, this guy last year, when you see his numbers and you would think they were a little rough, but his performance at the 2025 European Baseball Championship was one of the best ever and helped us earn a silver medal. His brain works differently. He’s the kind of guy that wants the ball in tough games. So he has earned a roster spot at the WBC. We also have Claudio Scotti, who has played professionally in the minors. He throws hard, 96-97 mph, and  is another guy who has earned the right to compete in the WBC. We got options. We just have to let the game tell us what to do. This game is like chess. Sometimes you let the other team score so you can score later. 

Team Italy players possess some of the best speed in the World Baseball Classic. Who can make a difference in these games? 

I think the only guy that cannot run will run. We have got a lot of speed in Dante Nori, Sam Antonacci and Jakob Marsee. Not only do they have speed, but they know how to use it. They are aggressive and they are waiting. You can see in their eyes. They are waiting for an opportunity to get an extra base. It’s a good thing to have. 

Please elaborate about your Team Italy WBC coaching staff (featuring Jorge Posada, Ron Wotus, Dave Righetti, Frank Menechino, Sal Fasano Alessandro Maestri, Allard Baird, Lipso Nava and Jack Santora).

We have got the people here to help me a lot. We have got an experienced coaching staff that is great. I would love to have this coaching staff manage an MLB team one day. With the staff, it is unbelievable. Jorge Posada is now an honorary Italian. I hear a lot of people saying he is not Italian. That’s a matter of baseball, which doesn’t have a flag. He has always preached baseball and is a proven winner. He has five world championship rings for a reason. You should have seen him in Florida work with the Italian-born and developed players for three days during a pre-WBC Spring Training Camp. He was so passionate about helping players and teaching them how to develop and refine their craft. He was free flowing with instruction and information that they needed. The players may have been talented before, but now they are better than ever because of him. 

You are considered by many as a player’s manager. Who trained you to become the manager you are today? 

I grew up in what I always say was in the best school in the world, the New York Yankees. They taught me how to do things, especially how to prepare myself for that day to win the game. And watching Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera every day gave me an idea and how to become a good manager. Managing is not an easy job. There are a lot of challenges and you have to have your eyes wide open all the time. But the key for the success of a manager is his coaching staff. You have got to have a good coaching staff. On our Team Italy WBC coaching staff, we have a total of 21 World Series Championship rings all together.  I was able to work as a San Diego Padres coach under manager Bob Melvin, one of the best I have ever worked with. What I learned from him is he let his coaches do their thing to get the job done. He used to tell me to work in my specialized area and that he would always have my back. He would protect his guys, and that’s what I’m doing right now. Our guys are professional so it’s easy, man. I don’t have to worry about anything. I just need to prepare for battle and execute our game plan to be successful.

Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci bring powerful Sox to Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel and MLB Top 10 infielding prospect Sam Antonacci are two fast-rising stars on Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). The White Sox duo add punch to an already powerful Azzurri lineup featuring the likes of Kansas CIty Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, Seattle Mariners’ Dominic Canzone and Miles Mastrobuoni, Miami Marlins’ Jacob Marsee, Houston Astros’ Zach Dezenzo, St. Louis Cardinals’ Thomas Saggese and Toronto Blue Jays’ prospect Giaconino Lasarcina. Team Italy begins Pool B play against Brazil on Saturday, March 7th at Daikin Park in Houston. Favorite USA, Mexico and Great Britain round out the competition. 

Recruited by former Team Italy catcher and Chicago White Sox coach Drew Butera (currently with the Toronto Blue Jays), catcher Kyle Teel is star struck with former MLB catchers Francisco Cervelli (Team Italy manager) and Jorge Posada (Team Italy hitting coach) serving on the WBC Azzurri staff. He said, “I want to be a sponge around those guys and learn as much as I can. It’s huge. I’m pumped. I’m really looking forward to competing and playing to win. I think we are going to surprise a lot of people. I really like our team. I’m so excited about being able to represent my family’s culture. I’m half Italian and being able to represent that side of the family is a great opportunity.”

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 left-handed hitting catcher 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.

During 2026 Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, White Sox and Azzurri teammate Sam Antonacci raked at the plate. He went 4-for-13, including two home runs–the first one off the bat registering at 109.5 mph, topping his previous high by over three mph– one double and no strikeouts. Teel commented, “Sam kills the baseball. He’s very talented, and he’s a gamer.” During the offseason, Antonacci was hard at work to build muscle mass and strength. White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller said, “He crushed the weight room, added weight, and utilized our bat speed program…that added strength is going to lend itself to being a more productive hitter.” National MLB Insider Russ Dorsey shared on a recent Mully and Haugh Show on Chicago’s 104.3 The Score broadcast that a White Sox scout guaranteed that Sam Antonacci will have a 12-to-15-year MLB career. 

Antonacci made his professional debut with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Low-A) in 2024, hitting .333 with 14 RBI in his first 23 games. In 2025, he split time between the Winston-Salem Dash (High-A) and the Birmingham Barons (Double-A). Over the course of 116 games, Antonacci hit .291 with five home runs, 57 RBI, and 48 stolen bases, proving his lightning speed and contact ability. He earned White Sox Minor League Player of the Month (June 2025) for his high OPS and impact on the base paths. After the 2025 regular season, he excelled in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .378/.505/.541 with 11 stolen bases in 19 games, further boosting his prospect status. Known for his disciplined approach at the plate with high walk rates and strong contact ability. Antonacci possesses excellent on-base skills as his stolen base totals are among the best in the White Sox system. In addition, he offers position versatility, having played second base, shortstop, and third base in the minors. Antonacci is one of Chicago’s fastest-rising prospects and Team Italy’s best kept secret. Look for him to make an impact for the Azzurri in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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.

Italian American Dave Giusti joins teammate Roberto Clemente in heaven

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

The Pittsburgh Pirates confirmed to MLB.com that Dave Giusti passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026. He was 86 years old. Prior to the start of the 1970 MLB season, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Joe L. Brown was looking to trade for some pitchers to enhance his team’s chances for a World Series title. He approached Roberto Clemente and asked “The Great One” who he should go after.  The Latin American hero from Puerto Rico responded, ” Get the little Italiano from St. Louis. If Giusti is sound, then he can help the Pirates. He has always had good stuff, and he is a tough competitor.” On October 21, 1969, Joe L. Brown made a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals to bring Dave Giusti to Pittsburgh. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2002, Dave Giusti said , “I did okay against Clemente, and that’s one of the reasons I ended up with the Pirates.”

The oldest of two sons born to David and Mary Giusti on November 27, 1939 in Seneca Falls, New York, Dave Giusti‘s first word out his mouth was reportedly “ball”. He had athleticism in his DNA. His father played semi-pro baseball before his birth. His uncle, John Pannucci, was the captain of the 1957 Syracuse University baseball team and also was the backup quarterback during the Jim Brown era. Giusti followed in his uncle’s footsteps to become the captain of the Syracuse University Orangemen in 1961, when the baseball squad went on to the College World Series but came home empty-handed.

The Houston Colt .45s, a National League expansion team, signed Dave Giusti as an amateur free agent shortly after college graduation on June 16, 1961. He used part of the $35,000 signing bonus to pay off his parents’ medical bills and purchase an insurance policy. The promising MLB prospect simultaneously pursued a high school science teaching career while earning a master’s degree in physical education during the off-season.

Dave Giusti made his MLB debut on April 13, 1962. He remained with the Houston organization through 1968 and played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969. Prior to being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dave Giusti was used as a starting pitcher. Bucs manager Danny Murtaugh converted him to a reliever. Assuming a new role as the club’s elite closer in 1970, Dave Giusti put together a 9-3 record with a 3.06 ERA and 26 saves.

Manny Sanguillen and Dave Giusti

During the 1971 regular season, Dave Giusti helped the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1971 regular season by leading the National League with 30 saves and posting an impressive 2.93 ERA. He was also instrumental in the 1971 National League Championship Series when he became the first MLB player to pitch in every game. In four scoreless appearances and 5.1 innings pitched, Dave Giusti gave up just one hit with two walks and three strikeouts. He later led the Pittsburgh Pirates to the franchise’s fourth World Series Championship title (1909, 1925, 1960, and 1971) after appearing in three 1971 World Series games and picking up one save. Dave Giusti achieved major career milestones including playing in his first MLB All-Star game and being named Sporting News National League Fireman of the Year in 1971. He became even more dominant in 1972 when his ERA dropped one point to a minuscule 1.93 and he tallied 22 saves.

Roberto Clemente

The next season proved to be traumatic following the loss of teammate Roberto Clemente, who died a martyr after losing his life aboard an ill-fated aircraft full of supplies destined for earthquake victims in Nicaragua on December 31, 1972. The Pirates dedicated the 1973 season to the legendary humanitarian and player. Despite not having Roberto Clemente in the lineup and in right field, 1973 National League All-Star Dave Giusti put together a 9-2 record with a 2.37 ERA and 20 saves. Readers wanting to learn more about the late and great Roberto Clemente should check out Roberto Clemente facts most don’t know: Part 1-U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Roberto Clemente and Roberto Clemente facts most don’t know: Part 2-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Vic Power.

In 1974 Dave Giusti became the first relief pitcher in MLB to earn a $100,000 a year when he delivered 12 saves and a 3.32 ERA in over 105 innings pitched. After returning from elbow surgery, the dominant Pirates closer saved 17 games with a 2.95 ERA in 1975. The following year sportswriter Harry Stein named Dave Giusti as the relief pitcher on his all-Italian team in an Esquire magazine article. He was 47-28 with a 2.94 ERA and 133 saves in his seven years as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dave Giusti  was traded to the Oakland Athletics in 1977 when he went 3-3 with a 2.98 ERA and six saves in 40 games before being dealt to the Chicago Cubs late in the season.  The proud Italian American finished his 15-year career in 1977 with a 100-93 record, 145 saves, and a 3.60 ERA.  The closer with impeccable command threw a total of 335 ninth innings during his career and set the MLB record for most ninth innings pitched without hitting a batter. After retiring, he served as the vice president of the Pirates Alumni Association. Dave Giusti was a pioneer of the modern-day closer role and redefined that aspect of the game.

Dave Giusti was inducted into the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. He was also the first Italian American baseball player inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame (GSSHF) in 1989.  Since then fellow MLB veterans Jason Grilli (2019), Armond Magnarelli (2004), Frank DiPino (2000), Luke LaPorta (1991), and Anthony Simone (1991) have joined Dave Giusti in the GSSHF.

Team Italy warms up against Cubs and Angels in Arizona before WBC in Houston

Roberto Angotti1 Comment

Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli and the Azzurri baseball squad prepare for battle in World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B action featuring USA, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston from March 7-11, 2026 with two Pre-WBC Exhibition Games against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa on Tuesday, March 3rd and the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Wednesday, March 4th.

2026 Chicago Cubs Spring Training single-game tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, December 5th at 11 am (CST). Sign up to become an Angels Insider by clicking HERE in order to participate in the Angels Insider Spring Training Pre-Sale beginning on Friday, November 21st at 10 am (PT) and continuing through Sunday, November 23rd at 10 pm (PT).

Single-game tickets for all World Baseball Classic games hosted at Daikin Park in Houston — including Pool B and quarterfinals — will go on sale Thursday, January 15, 2026. Forza #Italia!

Team Italy pitcher Samuel Aldegheri joins LA Angels in Boston

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

Halos manager Ron Washington has recalled pitcher Samuel Aldegheri to launch from Double-A Rocket City to Fenway Park in time for the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

After the Verona,Italy-born hurler made three starts for the Los Angeles Angels last year, Samuel Aldegheri is ready to make his 2025 big league debut after being optioned to the minors during spring training. The 23-year-old lefty has continued his development as a starter this season for the Rocket City Trash Pandas where he had posted a 4.54 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 41.2 innings in eight appearances. It is speculated that the first Italian pitcher born in Italy to record a Major League victory since 1949 will be used out of the bullpen for multi-innings of relief since the club’s starting rotation is currently set in stone. Forza #Italia!

Team Italy catcher Brett Sullivan adds depth to Pittsburgh Pirates

Roberto AngottiLeave a comment

Team Italy catcher and Azzurri cleanup hitter  Brett Sullivan, who led all catchers in the 2023 World Baseball Classic with seven hits and compiled an impressive .368 batting average (7-for-19) during the international competition, was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for outfielder Bryce Johnson and cash considerations on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The 31-year-old Italian American adds catching depth to the Buccos as Endy Rodriguez remains on the injured list with a right index finger laceration and Joey Bart deals with ongoing lower back soreness. Backstop Henry Davis is currently the only healthy Pirates catcher.

Brett Sullivan appeared in 40 MLB games with the San Diego Padres — 33 in 2023 and seven in 2024. In 97 Big League at-bats to date, he possesses a Major League career .206 batting average with two homers and eight RBI. While a member of the Friars, the outstanding defender was commended for his acrobatics at the plate and the subject of an MLB.com article entitled ‘I just went full-extension’: Catcher makes leaping tag at home by Padres beat reporter AJ Cassavell.

Selected by the Tampa Bays Rays in the 17th round of the 2015 draft out of the University of Pacific, Stockton native Brett Sullivan remained in the same organization until late 2021 when he signed a short-lived minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Victor Caratini on April 6, 2022. Prior to making his 2023 MLB debut, he played in 61 games at Triple-A El Paso and compiled a .328 batting average with seven home runs and 41 RBI. Although catcher has been his primary position, “Sully” has also played first base, third base and left field during his career.   

Brett Sullivan represented Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, playing under manager Mike Piazza. He wrote on his Instagram page: “I’ll never forget the memories I made during this time. We put together a group that leaves it all out on the field. Thank you everyone for all of your support. We will be back 100 percent. Forza Italia!” The Italians advanced to the quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion Samarai Japan.

A strong supporter of Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, “Sully” made an appearance at CON-X 2024, the Italian Baseball and Softball Convention. He spoke on the role of the catcher as well on the technical innovations of batting during the three-day convention at the Palacongressi in Rimini before hosting a catcher’s clinic at Collecchio Baseball Softball’s Giannino Zinelli complex. Forza Italia!

Team Italy spark plug Nicky Lopez joins hot-hitting Chicago Cubs

Roberto Angotti1 Comment

The Chicago Cubs signed versatile infielder Nicky Lopez to a one-year contract on April 23, 2025 after releasing him earlier in the spring. The Cubbies initially offered a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training on February 7, 2025, but the 30-year-old utility man was one of the final roster cuts before the MLB Tokyo Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. During 2025 Spring Training with the Cubs, he played in nine games and hit .450 (9-for-20).

The Team Italy 2023 World Baseball Classic spark plug (9-for-19, .474 BA, 2B, 3B, BB, SB, 2 R, 7 RBI) was an American League Gold Glove finalist last season while holding down second base for the Chicago White Sox (124 games, .241 BA). The left-handed hitter and speedster has played six seasons in the big leagues, mostly for the Kansas City Royals, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2016.

Nicky Lopez signed with the Los Angeles Angels on March 25, 2025 and made four sporatic MLB appearances (SS, 3B, LF) before being designated for assignment on April 18, 2025 to make room on the Halos roster for fan favorite Zach Neto after returning from the injured list. The proud Italian American has since made a few pinch-hit appearances and played second base for the National League Central first-place Cubs.

Nicky Lopez enjoyed every moment while wearing the Team Italy uniform in the 2023 WBC. He said, “It was an unbelievable experience. Just to be able to do it with Italy, where my ancestors grew up and are from and be able to visit Italy and see what life is like over there. I look forward to actually this next offseason going back there. But I mean, it was unbelievable, and I look forward to (representing) them again. We are proud to wear the shirt with the word Italia on our chest.”