Revamped Team Italy ready to make noise in '26 WBC

The past year of Francisco Cervelli’s life is what some would consider a dream. The former Yankees catcher became the manager for the Italian national team last January, and he has spent the time since driving his truck throughout the country, exploring the land where his father was born while recruiting players to join his club. After not knowing what to expect when taking on the role, the 39-year-old Venezuelan is effusive in describing it as an incredible experience.

But one would be mistaken to assume these idyllic months have dulled Cervelli’s intensity for the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic. He represented Italy in the 2009 and ‘17 tournaments, and as he takes on a new role, he’s hardly holding back when sharing his expectations with his club.

“It’s not vacation time,” Cervelli told MLB.com. “It’s real.

“For me, this is fun, but it’s also serious. I carry it in my chest, the flag that I respect. It’s part of my blood. I want to have players that really want to play.”

Such a mentality sheds light on why Cervelli was given the job, replacing Hall of Famer Mike Piazza as part of a full-scale leadership shakeup within the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball (FIBS). Team Italy had just finished ninth in the 2023 European Championship, missing out on a medal in that tournament for the first time since 2007. FIBS president Marco Mazzieri threw down the gauntlet, stating at MLB’s Winter Meetings that he wants to “wake up the baseball world that was sleeping for the last eight years.”

That task will be up to Cervelli, as he, along with a staff that features another former Yankee backstop in Jorge Posada, looks to guide Italy to a WBC performance that helps him on future recruiting trails.

“I believe the Classic is getting better and better every year,” Cervelli said. “Part of the movement is to do well to create an impact so that, for the next Classic, we can get more guys without calling.”

2023 WBC Performance

Italy got off to a strong start in the 2023 Classic, toppling Team Cuba in 10 innings in the group-play opener. The Italians seemed to be riding that momentum into their next game against Chinese Taipei, scoring five unanswered in an outburst bookended by RBI singles from Nicky Lopez. However, backed by a raucous home crowd that itself became an in-tournament sensation, Chinese Taipei scored six runs in the final three frames to nab the win.

A shutout loss to Panama left the Italians on the ropes, but their bats came alive against the Netherlands, producing seven unanswered runs to secure a lopsided victory, as well as a tiebreaker to advance out of the group stage and into the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, the good vibes were short-lived, as Italy’s run ended in its next game thanks to a 9-3 loss to eventual champion Japan.

2026 WBC schedule

In no uncertain terms, Team Italy has a manageable ramp into group play before having to take on a juggernaut.

Italy kicks off the Classic in Houston with a pair of matchups against the two lowest-ranked teams in Pool B -- Team Brazil on March 7 at 1 p.m. EST and Team Great Britain at the same time the following day. On paper, it appears to be an opportunity for the Italians to start the tournament with some momentum.

They’ll need as much of it as they can get, since their following contest will be against Team USA on March 10 at 9 p.m. EST, clashing with a roster that seems to get more loaded by the day.

“Obviously they’re stacked and they have a good team,” Posada told MLB.com. “We need to win the games before that game to have that mentality of, ‘We can really beat anybody.’”

Italy then wraps up group play one day later with a 7 p.m. EST bout vs. Mexico.

Best WBC performance

Of course, Italy has faced an uphill group-play battle before, particularly when it posted its best WBC showing in 2013. The “Azzurri” were placed in the same group as USA and Mexico that year, too, along another formidable foe in Team Canada. To the surprise of many, that setup did not lead to an early Italian exit.

Led by former Cubs legend Anthony Rizzo, Team Italy went punch-for-punch with Mexico to edge out a tournament-opening win. One day later, a four-RBI outburst from former Twins and Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello sparked a rout of Canada that was so lopsided it was called in the eighth.

Italy advanced out of the group stage, and seemed to have another upset cooking when it took a 4-0 lead against a stacked Dominican Republic club in the next round. Unfortunately, the Italians soon ran out of fuel, falling to the Dominicans before being bounced by Puerto Rico, with both defeats coming in one-run fashion. The seventh-place finish remains the highest for Italy in the WBC.

Biggest games in country history

Italy has proven it can hold its own on the continental circuit, bringing home 10 gold medals in the European Baseball Championship. However, Italy’s pair of upsets in the 2013 WBC continues to represent some of the country’s best baseball performances on an international stage.

Beyond that, one of the Italians’ top moments outside of Europe occurred on October 31, 2010, in the Intercontinental Cup. After a tournament run that also featured a surprising 3-0 win over Japan, Italy faced an imposing Chinese Taipei team in the bronze-medal game, and did so on that club’s home turf at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium. Despite the unfavorable setting, Team Italy was still able to grind out a 4-3 victory to secure a third-place finish and bring home its first medal in the history of the tournament.

Notable MLB Players who may join the team

After making his debut with Italy in the 2023 WBC, Vinnie Pasquantino wasted little time announcing his intent to return to the international stage. The Royals’ first baseman made it known last May that he’ll once again be representing his heritage and suiting up with the “Azzurri” this March. This time, though, it appears he’ll be joined by a Kansas City teammate.

Jac Caglianone has also signaled his intent to join Team Italy for the Classic, capping off a whirlwind year that featured his MLB debut after a fast rise through the Royals’ farm system. Both he and Pasquantino hope to provide some thump for an Italian lineup that produced just one home run in the 2023 tournament.

Though the roster is still being finalized, there are several other big leaguers who’ve had their names linked to the Italian team. Phillies manager Rob Thomson noted that veteran righty Aaron Nola expects to take the mound for Team Italy, while White Sox catcher Kyle Teel announced his intent to join the club, as well.

Minor League prospects who may join the team

One of the more obvious prospects to keep an eye on for the “Azzurri” is Italian-born lefty Sam Aldegheri. Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Angels’ No. 13 prospect, Aldegheri became the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to reach the Majors when he made his debut on Aug. 30, 2024. It’d be no surprise to see his name land on Team Italy’s roster.

Additional prospect names worth mentioning include right-hander Matteo Marelli, who signed with the Mets last summer, and Ettore Giulianelli, who just signed a Minor League deal with the Guardians after generating tons of buzz with his nasty screwball.

Story to watch

The biggest storyline for Italy will be how it performs under the watchful eye of new manager Cervelli. The 39-year-old was able to guide his team to a silver-medal finish in the 2025 European Baseball Championship, so his managerial career certainly got off to a solid start. And if you ask Posada, Cervelli’s early success is due to lessons learned from their former club.

“Preach what we were taught in the Minor Leagues with the Yankees, the way we were brought up,” Posada said when asked what he and Cervelli are trying to impart on Team Italy. “Winning attitude is the most important thing in our organization. He’s developed that, and he’s teaching that now.”

Questions ahead of Upcoming Tournament

FIBS made major changes last winter, with international success viewed as one of the biggest reasons for such a move. The stage is now set to show what fruit that adjustment will bear.

Is Italy a sleeping giant ready to wake up in baseball’s biggest international tournament, as Mazzieri implied? Will Cervelli be able to push his team to heights not seen since 2013?

Italy has big aspirations for baseball, and the national team is well aware of what a strong WBC performance could unlock.

“There’s nothing better than winning,” Posada said. “For Team Italy, it’s going to help out younger generations of Italian kids. It’s going to help out a lot for baseball in Italy.

“I think this is important not only for the guys that are going to be playing for Team Italy, but for the whole country.”