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Undefeated USA looks to advance with win vs. Italy (9 p.m. ET, FS1)

11:51 AM EDT

HOUSTON -- Team USA is one win away from sweeping through Pool B of the World Baseball Classic and punching its ticket to the quarterfinals. After a huge win against rival Mexico on Monday night at Daikin Park, the U.S. is undefeated with one game to go. But that game

Espressos flow once more in big win for Italy to improve to 2-0

March 8, 2026

HOUSTON -- Make it a double espresso for Team Italy this time. Italy smacked back-to-back home runs to spark its 7-4 win over Great Britain in Sunday's World Baseball Classic matchup at Daikin Park -- the first by Brewers No. 6 prospect Andrew Fischer in his first WBC at-bat, the

Italy shuts out Brazil, with Verona native Aldegheri leading the charge

March 7, 2026

HOUSTON -- Entering the World Baseball Classic, Team Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said his goal was to "put Italy on the map" as a baseball country. So for his team's first game against Brazil on Saturday at Daikin Park, he handed the ball to Sam Aldegheri -- one of the

A shot of espresso is the best way to celebrate a home run

@jared_greenspan
March 7, 2026

Everyone’s favorite dugout espresso machine is back in business. And business is booming. Italy created a stir at the 2023 World Baseball Classic when it housed a Nespresso machine in the dugout. With a little caffeine in their system, the Italians played inspired baseball, advancing out of group play for

From idol to mentor, Teel elated to work with Posada on Team Italy

March 7, 2026

HOUSTON -- For Team Italy catcher Kyle Teel, playing in the World Baseball Classic has brought a unique opportunity: working with one of his catching idols, Jorge Posada. Posada is an assistant hitting coach on the Italy staff. But it's his experience as a catcher -- and as a Yankee

World Baseball Classic preview: Top stars, predictions & more for every pool

March 4, 2026

Get ready to dive into World Baseball Classic pool play. The 2026 tournament, which gets underway this week, features four pools: A, B, C and D. Each of those pools consists of five teams battling it out in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each pool then advance

Team Italy’s lineup so intriguing Pasquantino’s grandpa can’t stop talking about it

March 3, 2026

MESA, Ariz. -- Vinnie Pasquantino has jokingly reminded his grandfather, Denny, that he has been playing games regularly for the Royals this Spring Training. Old news. His grandpa wants to hear all about Team Italy and the World Baseball Classic. “My grandfather won’t shut up asking me about Italy,” Pasquantino

‘This is your team’: Pasquantino proudly carrying Italy’s Classic torch

@CDrottar19
February 28, 2026

Back when he was making his way through the Royals’ Minor League system, Vinnie Pasquantino began noticing a common trend. “People always tried to give me nicknames,” he told MLB.com, “so they didn't have to say ‘Pasquantino.’”

Revamped Team Italy ready to make noise in '26 Classic

@CDrottar19
February 28, 2026

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

Prospect's Classic dream looks different -- but no less exciting -- in reality

February 28, 2026

This story was excerpted from Adam McCalvy's Brewers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Peña, Dezenzo trade Astros caps for D.R. and Italy en route to Classic

February 28, 2026

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- With World Baseball Classic veterans Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve staying with the Astros throughout the spring, a pair of first-time WBC participants played their final Grapefruit League game on Saturday before heading off to their respective camps. All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña is headed to

Every MLB team's participants in '26 Classic

February 25, 2026

Below is a list of the players in every Major League organization who have been included on the rosters for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Pitchers denoted with ^ are part of the Designated Pitcher Pool (DPP), a reserve of up to six pitchers per federation that can be called

Who's the most likely World Baseball Classic champ? We rank 'em, 1-20

February 20, 2026

The World Baseball Classic begins on Wednesday, March 4, at 10 p.m. ET in a game between Australia and Chinese Taipei. It will kick off a fortnight of absolute madness, with the best baseball players on the planet highly motivated by patriotism, pride and plain old competitiveness squaring off in

The six teams that may surprise at the World Baseball Classic 

February 13, 2026

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of Michael Clair's International Beat Newsletter, bringing global baseball news to your inbox every month. Sign up for future installments HERE and check out the full newsletter HERE.

Pasquantino is back for Team Italy in 2026 World Baseball Classic

@Theo_DeRosa
May 7, 2025

The “Pasquatch” is back in the World Baseball Classic. Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino will once again suit up for Team Italy in the 2026 WBC, which will take place from March 5-17, 2026. Pasquantino will bring his power bat and colorful personality to one of the sport’s premier events

World Baseball Classic 2026 pools finalized

April 9, 2025

Daisuke Matsuzaka carving up batters en route to back-to-back MVP Awards; Nelson Cruz’s triumphant blast; Adam Jones’ leaping home run robbery; Javier Báez’s no-look tag; and Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout with the championship on the line -- these are just some of the World Baseball Classic’s indelible moments that

Cervelli and Colletti outline vision for Team Italy's future

February 9, 2025

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of Michael Clair's International Beat Newsletter, bringing global baseball news to your inbox every month. Sign up for future installments HERE and check out the full newsletter HERE.

Francisco Cervelli and Ned Colletti to lead Team Italy ahead of World Baseball Classic 2026

January 28, 2025

There are still 15 months to go until the next World Baseball Classic in 2026, but Team Italy isn’t resting. When the “Azzurri” next take the field, there will be a new manager in the dugout as the Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) announced on Friday that former big league

Piazza dreaming big while reshaping baseball’s foundation in Italy

@CDrottar19
July 22, 2024

“It all starts with a dream.” Ask Mike Piazza about his goals for baseball in Italy and he’ll likely find his way back to this thought. The Hall of Fame catcher has already made multiple noteworthy contributions to help support the country’s baseball ambitions, representing Italy both on the field

‘He’s tremendous’: Italian pitching icon Maestri wows in coaching debut

@CDrottar19
May 25, 2024

Alessandro Maestri walked to the center of the room, standing before a group of Europe's best pitchers. Nine years ago he was in their shoes, preparing to represent the continent and his home country of Italy on the mound during the Global Baseball Games against some of the most fearsome

13-year-old's one-of-a-kind journey is boosting baseball in Italy

@CDrottar19
February 2, 2024

Mathieu Silva could barely contain his excitement. His father, Christian, had gathered the family together in their hometown of Bollate just outside of Milan to share an announcement. One which detailed an opportunity unlike any young Italian baseball player had ever experienced. Mathieu -- a 13-year-old outfielder who represented Italy

Previewing the 2023 European Baseball Championship

September 21, 2023

Europe's baseballing nations made a statement at the World Baseball Classic this spring. Often overlooked, the success of Italy -- which reached the quarterfinals at the expense of the Netherlands -- along with victories by Great Britain and the Czech Republic that confirmed their place in the 2026 tournament, helped

Ohtani, Darvish work in tandem to send Japan to semis

March 16, 2023

TOKYO -- Thirteen years. It had been 13 years and 242 Major League starts since the last time Yu Darvish was called out of the bullpen. The last time it happened, the right-hander was a 23-year-old stud for the Nippon-Ham Fighters who dreamt of pitching in the Major Leagues.

Italy's newest espresso machine started with a meeting 20 years ago

March 16, 2023

TOKYO -- The two first met in 2003. After being released in the offseason by the Giants, Tsuyoshi Shinjo re-joined the Mets -- where Mike Piazza held court as the team's star and leader. "In 2001, when Shinjo first came to the Majors, Mike is the guy who took care

The wild 5-team tiebreaker, explained

March 13, 2023

After Pool A of the World Baseball Classic ended in a five-way tie, Cuba and Italy are advancing to the next round. Cuba wins the pool based on tiebreakers and will face Australia, the Pool B runner-up, in the quarterfinals. Italy advances as the runner-up team -- clinching a spot