Team Italia

How Team Italy can reach the 2025 European Baseball Championship finals

Roberto Angotti3 Comments
2023 WBC stars Nicky Lopez, Vinnie Pasquantino, Miles Mastrobuoni and Brett Sullivan

Despite a 4-2 record during the 2023 Senior Elite European Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic, Team Italy placed ninth due to Team Quality Balance. After suffering an 8-3 upset by Sweden (8th place) and a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to eventual silver medalist Great Britain early in the tournament, the Azzurri did not reach the quarterfinals. As a result, the Italians were relegated to the 9-12 placement round and did not automatically qualify for the 2025 European Baseball Championship in the Netherlands.

Now Team Italy must earn the right to compete against the top 2023 Euro finishers (Groups A and B) in Rotterdam from September 24-27, 2025 by hosting and winning one of two qualifiers (Group C) in Novara from September 20-22, 2025. The Italians begin their journey in Novara with the aim of returning to Rotterdam, where the Azzurri last won the 2012 European Baseball Championship title and aspire to recapture the gold magic again thirteen years later.

The top eight finishers from the 2023 Senior Elite European Baseball Championship are broken up into two groups, Groups A and B, in a round-robin tourney at Neptunus Familiestadion in Rotterdam. Group A features reigning champion Spain along with Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden, while host 2023 bonze medalist Kingdom of the Netherlands competes in Group B with Great Britain, France and Israel.

Eight countries competing in the 2025 Senior Elite European Baseball Championship Qualifiers are included in Groups C and D at different locations. Group C takes place in Novara, where Team Italy faces Switzerland, Greece and Lithuania. Belgium hosts Group D in Borgerhoutm and plays against Croatia, Austria and Hungary.

The top two teams from Groups C and D advance to Rotterdam and play the third and fourth-place finishers from Groups A and B. Then the winners of the aforementioned clashes together with the first two teams from Groups A and B compete in an elimination round to determine the medal winners.

Below is the road map for Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli and technical coaching coordinator Gibo Gerali to lead the Azzurri squad to the 2025 Senior Elite European Baseball Championship final:

Saturday, September 20, 2025 9:30 am (ET) Switzerland vs. Team Italy in Novara

Sunday, September 21, 2025 9:30 am (ET) Team Italy vs. Lithuania in Novara

Monday, September 22, 2025 9:30 am (ET) Greece vs. Team Italy in Novara

Assuming Team Italy wins all three games listed above in Novara and continues to win the games below in Rotterdam then the road map looks like this:

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 Travel Day to Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 1:30 pm (ET) Team Italy vs. Group B fourth-place finisher (Kingdom of the Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Israel)

Thursday, September 25, 2025 1:30 pm (ET) Team Italy vs. Group A leader (Spain, Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden)

Friday, September 26, 2025 1:30 pm (ET) Team Italy vs. Semifinalist or Group A runner-up (Spain, Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden)

Saturday, September 27, 2025 1:30 pm (ET) Team Italy vs. Finalist or Group B leader or runner-up (Kingdom of the Netherlands, Great Britain, France and Israel)

Team Italy hopes to recapture the European Baseball Championship throne after a lengthy 13-year drought. The Italians have won the Euro title ten times, while Kingdom of the Netherlands has dominated the tournament with 24 first-place finishes. The last time the two powerhouses met was at the Euro Championship final in 2019, when the Dutch prevailed in a 5-1 Euro Gold Medal victory in Bonn, Germany. It has been a long four years since 2021 European Baseball Championship host Team Italy earned a medal after a 2-0 shutout over Spain in the Bronze Medal Game in Torino.

Team Italy vs. Kingdom of the Netherlands

Nothing would be more enjoyable than a rematch between Team Italy and Kingdom of the Netherlands in the 2025 European Baseball Championship final in Rotterdam, where the Italians last won the Euros in 2012. Purchase your tickets for EuroBaseball 2025 by clicking HERE. If you cannot make it in person, watch all the action live by clicking HERE. Forza #Italia!

Team Italy slugger Vinnie Pasquantino named AL Player of the Week

Roberto Angotti

Team Italy and Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino earned American League Player of the Week honors after batting .500 with a 1.305 OPS, .536 OBP and .769 slugging percentage. The “Pasquatch” also hit two home runs and collected seven RBI.

The 27-year-old slugger tied a career-high of four hits in the first game of last Thursday’s doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals and reached base four times against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. He hit home runs in consecutive games on Friday and Saturday after starting the week with an RBI in five straight games.

Even more impressive, the proud Italian American native has reached base safely in 24 consecutive games, second–best in MLB behind Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez, who leads the league with 34. Vinnie Pasquantino is currently on a nine-game hitting streak.

It is the second time in his career winning AL player of the week, claiming the award back on August 15, 2022. He also played error-free defense, converting 40 total chances in five games at first base, including this web gem in which he robbed Andrew Benintendi of a base hit with a dive to his right, before spinning and firing a strike to pitcher Seth Lugo covering first base.

Representing the Azzurri in the 2023 World Baseball Classic under the leadership of National Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, Vinnie Pasquantino helped Team Italy reach its best-ever finish in the WBC Quarterfinals in Tokyo. With former MLB fan favorite and manager Francisco Cervelli leading the charge, the sky is the limit as “Pasquatch” returns to Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Italians compete in Pool B against host USA, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil at Daikan Park in Houston from March 6-11, 2026. Forza #Italia!

Team Italy pitcher Samuel Aldegheri joins LA Angels in Boston

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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

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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

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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.”

Celebrate Fullerton Sister Cities Fukui and Tollo at the Big A on August 2, 2025

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Join the Fullerton Sister City Association as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the sister city relationship with Fukui, Japan on Japanese Heritage Night at Angel Stadium on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Make sure to arrive well before the 7:07 pm start to enjoy the free pre-game cultural celebration which will feature entertainment for the whole family including a taiko drum performance, food and giveaways. When purchasing tickets through the Fullerton Sister City Association, you will receive an exclusive Japanese-themed Angels jersey before the first pitch at the gate 5 courtyard. In addition, you will be helping Fullerton’s sister city in Tollo, Italy raise funds for members of Tollo Baseball and Softball and the Abruzzo All-Stars realize their dream competing in the USA and joining Team Italy at the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Houston. Email FSCAYoung@gmail.com for tickets and more information.

Yusei Kikuchi is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. Halos manager Ron Washington gave him his first regular-season Opening Day start in his six-year MLB pitching career on March 27, 2025. The crafty Japanese lefty agreed to a three-year deal worth $63 million this offseason and is one of several veterans who was signed to supplement the club’s young core. Prior to the start of the season, the 33-year-old southpaw pitcher had a career 4.57 ERA with 837 strikeouts in 809 2/3 innings and posted a 4.05 ERA with 206 strikeouts in 175 2/3 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros last year. He was particularly impressive pitching for Houston with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts with 76 strikeouts in 60 innings. On Sunday, April 20, 2025, Kikuchi (3.38 ERA this season) allowed one (unearned) run on five hits over 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and four walks in a no-decision against the San Francisco Giants.

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi speaking to media upon his signing

History was made on August 30, 2024 when Samuel Aldegheri became the first Italian-born and developed pitcher in Major League Baseball while starting for the Los Angeles Angels and again on September 6, 2024 when he was the first pitcher born in Italy to record a Major League victory since 1949. The 23-year-old Verona native is currently pitching for Double-A Affiliate Rocket City Trash Pandas, and it won’t be long before the Angels’ Top 5 prospect re-joins the Big League squad in the pennant race.

Italian-born Samuel Aldegheri in action against the Texas Rangers on September 6, 2024

Make sure to catch all the action at the Big A on Saturday night, August 2, 2025 and receive the limited-edition Angels Japanese-themed jersey when purchasing tickets through the Fullerton Sister City Association. Email FSCAYoung@gmail.com for further information.

Divine intervention to bring Angels’ Samuel Aldegheri and Ducks’ Damian Clara to Anaheim, California on April 9, 2025?

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50% of Americans believe that the supernatural is involved in determining the outcome of sporting events. That percentage includes Americans who pray for God to help their team (26 percent), think their team has been cursed (25 percent) or more generally believe God is involved in determining who wins on the field or on the ice (19 percent). Overall, half of Americans fall into one of these groups, according to a recent Public Religion Research Institute poll.

Many questions remain unanswered, and only God knows the answers. What roles, if any, will Italian-born and developed athletes like pitcher Samuel Aldegheri play in the outcome for the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A and goalie Damian Clara for the Anaheim Ducks just a puck’s throw away at the Honda Center on Wednesday, April 9, 2025? It will be the sixth day of the opening homestand for the Halos after a three-game weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians and the finale of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. It will also be and the second to the last regular season game for the Ducks as they try to extinguish the Calgary Flames on ice. April 9, 2025 is significant because it serves the final opportunity for fans to see both teams in action on the same day by watching the first pitch at 1:07 pm and then later catching the opening face-off at center ice at 7 pm.

In order for both Italians to be on their respective rosters on this particular day, divine intervention and prayers must occur. In the case of the baseball, most MLB teams have a five-man pitching rotation. However, in the case of Samuel Aldegheri, the Verona-born left-handed pitcher has Angels watching over him since Halos manager Ron Washington will protect his rotation early in the season by carrying a sixth starter on their sixth consecutive game of the opening homestand.

History was made on August 30, 2024 when Samuel Aldegheri became the first Italian-born and developed pitcher in Major League Baseball while starting for the Los Angeles Angels and again on September 6, 2024 when he was the first pitcher born in Italy to record a Major League victory since 1949. Lucca-born and San Francisco-raised Marino Pieretti debuted with the Washington Senators in 1945 and earned his first win four years later.

Following his first MLB start against the Seattle Mariners at the Big A on August 30th, Samuel Aldegheri said, “I’m happy for myself and for my family, but I’m happy for my country and for the kids in Italy who might feel like they are nobody, but I just showed them anyone can make it. They have to believe in their dreams and chase them.” Against the Texas Rangers in his first MLB win at Globe Life Park on September 6th, the 23-year-old Italian starter showcased his 94.4 mph four-seam fastball along with his changeup, curveball and slider. By mixing speeds and location throughout his six-inning and seven-strikeout performance, the crafty lefty was able to fool the 2023 World Series Champions. Skipper Ron Washington commented, “He kept a good-swinging team off balance over there. This kid has an idea of how to pitch, and he showed that tonight. He set things up so when he did throw his fastball up in the zone, he got hacks at it.”

Selected in the second round (#60 overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft, 19-year-old Damian Clara is the first Italian-born draftee in NHL history and the tallest-ever draftee in Anaheim Ducks franchise history. The 6′ 6″ goaltender from the small town of Brunico in the Dolomites made a big impression on Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, who signed the up-and-coming prospect to a three-year entry-level contract on June 3, 2024.

Damian Clara led Team Italy to a bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championship (WJC) Division I, Group B tournament, going 3-1-0 with a 1.25 GAA and .954 SV%. He was named the tourney’s Best Goaltender and Team Italy’s Top Player. He also helped the young Italians win gold at the 2022 WJC Division II tournament, earning the Best Goaltender award. Damian Clara represented the Azzurri in the Division I World Championships in 2021, 2023 and 2024. At 16 years old in May 2021, he became the youngest goaltender to ever appear at the World Championships and the youngest player overall in more than 80 years.

Finding success everywhere he’s played internationally, Damian Clara shined in Sweden before getting drafted, posting a .903 save percentage with a 2.79 goals-against average for Färjestad BK at the J20 level. During the 2023-24 season, Clara went 25-8-0 with four shutouts in the HockeyAllsvenskan–Sweden’s second league–where he was named the top junior player and led Brynäs IF to a Swedish Hockey League (SHL) promotion while on loan for more playing time. During the qualification round, he posted incredible figures, recording a 1.68 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.

Anaheim Ducks Goaltending Coach Sudarshan Maharaj said, “Damien had a pressure-filled season last year, playing for a team that was trying to make the jump back up to the SHL. And when their other goalie unfortunately had to leave the team for personal reasons, Damien was thrust into the starting role and played something like 14 games in a row just trying to establish himself. He did a fantastic job maturing as a goaltender, both technically and mentally. He spent a lot of time on his mental game as well as his technical game and he played some very pressure-filled minutes in the playoffs. Eventually, he was the starting goalie when the team took the step back to the SHL. He had an intense experience last year and he handled it very, very well.”

Although he remains an active force behind Farjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League to gain more valuable experience, the young and promising goaltender’s path to the NHL is clear now that he has secured a three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks. The questions now remains as to when goalie Damian Clara and Angels’ left-handed pitcher Samuel Aldegheri will cross paths in Anaheim. Will divine intervention bring them together in Orange County, California on April 9, 2025?

The writing is on the wall as the Ducks and the Angels have had a series of the cross promotions in the past and have two upcoming events next year. The Ducks are hosting Angels Night on January 7, 2025 and are giving away Angels jerseys to the first 10,000 fans, while the Angels are hosting Ducks Night on September 5, 2025 and handing out Ducks Cooler Bags. At the very least, can we at least have Damian Clara throw out the first pitch to fellow Italian Samuel Aldegheri? Insiders at the Vatican only know…

 

 

Roberto Angotti featured on History of LA Ska

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ROBERTO ANGOTTI is a radio DJ pioneer, artist manager, promoter, journalist, filmmaker, professor, and baseball aficionado. He was recently a special guest on Episode 84 of the HISTORY OF LA SKA: ONE ON ONE SESSIONS , which is hosted by JUNOR FRANCIS and produced by ERIC KOHLER.

Roberto shared what the Southern California radio landscape was like in the ‘80s and ‘90s, including when he started “Reggae Revolution” on KNAC and KROQ and co-hosted “3 O’Clock Reggae” on KWIZ with Junor Francis.

He also talks about…

– Meeting and interviewing Peter Tosh

– Introducing reggae and ska to mainstream radio

– Importance of UB40 and Sublime

– Managing Wailing Souls, Pato Banton and Tippa Irie

– Blue Riddim Band, Ranking Roger and Nancy Reagan

– A funny story about Maxi Priest

– His love for and connection to Italy and baseball

– HIs Russo Brothers National Italian American Foundation Film Forum Award-winning documentary Italian American Baseball Family

– Working with Pato Banton on the Baseball Reggae movie soundtrack for his latest documentary Introducing Team Italy Manager Mike Piazza

– Serving as Sister City Ambassador between Fullerton and Tollo, Italy in honor of Tommy Lasorda

– Working as English language editor and play-by-play commentator for Federazione Italiana Baseballl Softball (www.fibs.it/en)

Watch on YouTube below:

Team Italy competes in Senior European Baseball Championship from September 24-October 1, 2023

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The 37th edition of the Euro Baseball Championship takes place in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Trebic and Blansko. Team Italy begins Group B play in Trebic and competes against Hungary, Sweden and Great Britain. The two top teams advance to the quarterfinals in Brno.

The Czech Republic welcomes the Senior European Baseball Championship for the third time after presenting the international competition in 2005 and co-hosting the Euros with Germany in 2014. Team Italy hopes to dethrone four-time defending champion the Netherlands and recapture the Euro championship after an elusive 11-year absence. The Italians have won the European title 10 times, while the Dutch have dominated the tournament with 24 gold medal finishes. Most recently, Team Italy placed third when hosting the 2021 European Baseball Championship in Piemonte. 

A total of 16 countries are competing in the 2023 European Baseball Championship. Host Czech Republic along with Spain, Austria and Greece make up Group A. Team Italy is in Group B with Hungary, Sweden and Great Britain. The Netherlands, France, Ukraine and Croatia battle in Group C. Newcomer Switzerland faces Germany, Israel and Belgium in Group D. The two top finishers of each group advance to the quarterfinals.  

The Team Italy Group B schedule is as follows:

Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 11 am (local time): Hungary-Italy in Trebic

Monday, September 25, 2023 at 5:30 pm (local time): Italy-Sweden in Trebic

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 5:30 pm (local time): Great Britain-Italy in Trebic

If Team Italy wins Group B, the Italians advance to the quarterfinals in Brno.

The top seed from Group B will play the second seed from Group A (Austria, Czech Republic, Greece and Spain) in the quarterfinal on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 12 noon (local time).

The winner of the quarterfinal game will advance to the semifinal and play the winner of the game between the top seed in Group A and the second seed in Group B on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 6:30 pm (local time)

The winner of the semifinal game will move on to the final on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 6:30 pm (local time) in Brno, while the loser will battle for the bronze medal game earlier in the day at 12 noon (local time). Forza #Italia!

2023 EUROPEAN BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Team Italy reunites Sam Gaviglio and Joe Biagini in the 2023 World Baseball Classic

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Former Toronto Blue Jays pitchers Sam Gaviglio and Joe Biagini are together again playing for Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic

Once inseparable as part of the 2018 Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching rotation and again in 2019 while providing relief out the Jay’s bullpen, Sam Gaviglio and Joe Biagini have picked up where they left off three years ago together after being summoned by Team Italy manager and National Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza to lead the Italians to success in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said, “Joe and Sam are two of my all-time favorites. Both did a tremendous job for us, better than anyone expected. Both are first class individuals also and proud Italians.”

For the Biagini family, playing for Team Italy is close to the heart since relatives hail from Lucca. Rob Biagini, a former San Francisco Giants pitching prospect, helped Team Italy win the 1979 European Baseball Championship. He later led Parma to the 1980 European Champions Cup title. During a recent pre-WBC workout in Scottsdale, Arizona, Joe Biagini said, “Italy is in our soul.”

The road to MLB for Biagini was not so easy. After redshirting and playing one year at the College of San Mateo, the talented right-handed pitcher transferred to UC Davis, where he made 13 appearances out of the bullpen and went 3-1. Biagini was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in the 26th round of the 2011 MLB draft after his redshirt sophomore season. He was later selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2015 Rule 5 draft.

Biagini made his MLB debut on April 8, 2016 when he pitched a perfect ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox and posted his first career strikeout facing David Ortiz. The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays made to it to the American League Championship Series. During his six postseason appearances against Baltimore, Texas and Cleveland, Biagini threw 7.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. He was the only rookie to start and finish the season with the team and as a result received the 2016 Blue Jays Rookie of the Year Award.

Former Toronto first base coach Tim Leiper remembers that 2016 season like it was yesterday. He said, “Joe got better as the season progressed. He was like new found money. The Blue Jays would have never reached the postseason without him.. He is his own guy who can be light-hearted, but when it comes to pitching he is all business.”

Biagini was traded by Toronto to the Houston Astros along with Aaron Sanchez and Cal Stevenson in exchange for Derek Fisher on July 31, 2019. He spent the remainder of the 2019 season and part of the 2020 season with Houston before signing with the Chicago Cubs on December 17, 2020. Biagini was last seen pitching in MLB on October 3, 2021 when picking up the win after throwing three scoreless innings of relief against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In a twist of fate, Joe Biagini and Sam Gaviglio actually went head-to-head in a pitching matchup at Safeco Field on June 9, 2017 when the Seattle Mariners hosted the Toronto Blue Jays. M’s starter Sam Gaviglio made his MLB debut just one month prior and held the Jays to two runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings of work. Trailing 2-1 with little offense against Blue Jays starting pitcher Joe Biagini, Seattle finally rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh and eventually won 4-2. Biagini reflected on the experience and said, “Too bad we were not playing in the National League at the time so we could have actually faced each other (in the batter’s box).”

Although it may be Joe Biagini’s first time pitching for Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Sam Gaviglio returns to the Azzurri squad after his WBC pitching debut against Venezuela at Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 11, 2017. He threw four scoreless innings against an explosive offense powered by MLB All-Stars Jose Altuve, Martin Prado, Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Gonzalez, Victor Martinez, and Salvador Perez before surrendering two runs in top of the fifth inning. Despite an impressive start, he did not receive a decision in the Team Italy 11-10 extra-inning loss to Venezuela.

Gaviglio was first drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2008 in the 40th round but did not sign in favor of playing ball at Oregon State University instead. However, he eventually signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after being selected in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB draft. Gaviglio was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Ty Kelly on November 20, 2014. He made 12 appearances (including 11 starts) for the 2017 Seattle Mariners before being claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals, for whom he made another four appearances (including two starts) before the end of the 2017 season.

Gaviglio was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on March 21, 2018. Used primarily as a starting pitcher during the 2018 season, the Ashland, Oregon native worked exclusively out of the Toronto bullpen in 2019 when he was the MLB leader in innings pitched (95.2). Former Blue Jays’ coach Tim Leiper said, “I have followed Sammy since the day I worked with him during the 2013 Arizona Fall League. His character is second to none. He is so upbeat, ultra prepared, super dependable and a solid teammate. Sammy anchored the Blue Jays pitching staff.”

He was last seen in the big leagues when making four relief appearances for the Jays in 2020. Gaviglio signed with the SSG Landers in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2021 and compiled a 6-4 record in 15 starts. While pitching in Asia, he noticed a different style of baseball being played. Gaviglio said, “The game is placed at a much faster pace. It’s more like small ball and about manufacturing runs.” With the 2023 World Baseball Classic taking place in Taichung, Taiwan for Team Italy, he hopes his recent experience playing in Asia will give the Italians an advantage. For Biagini and Gaviglio, winning Pool A against Cuba (March 9th at 6 am ET), Chinese Taipei (March 10th at 6 am ET), Panama (March 10th at 11 pm ET) and Kingdom of the Netherlands (March 12th at 7 am ET) means everything.

Former Toronto coach and current Team Canada coach Tim Leiper concluded, “The World Baseball Classic (WBC) provides the opportunity to bring them (Biagini and Gaviglio) together again. Both are versatile pitchers who have been in high-leverage positions so they can start or pitch relief, which is great for Team Italy. There are not many pitchers around who have the same skill set. They can compete and are capable of showing how good they are in the WBC to put themselves on the map again. The international competition commands respect.”