Cervelli and Colletti outline vision for Team Italy's future
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Francisco Cervelli and Ned Colletti to lead Team Italy ahead of World Baseball Classic 2026
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
World Baseball Classic 2026 pools, dates announced
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
Piazza dreaming big while reshaping baseball’s foundation in Italy
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Italy's LaSorsa turns sour jam into sweet celly
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- It was an almost insurmountable challenge. How could Joe LaSorsa -- a Team Italy relief pitcher by way of the Tampa Bay Rays Minor League system -- get himself, his team and what must have felt like his entire country out of this jam? With Italy leading
Italy wins, advances (with Cuba) after 5-way tie
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- Joe LaSorsa was in a tight spot. Team Netherlands had loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth inning. They were down, 6-1, to Italy in a must-win game and Team Italy manager Mike Piazza had turned to LaSorsa -- a Rays Minor Leaguer -- to
Panama blanks Italy to survive must-win contest
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- Panama came into its Saturday matchup in Pool A of the World Baseball Classic needing a win to keep its dreams of making it to the quarterfinals alive, while a loss by Italy would put its back against the wall. So, of course, they both played like
Italy's secret weapon in World Baseball Classic? The 'staches
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- “I mean, what am I going to say, no, when they ask me to shave and make my mustache like the good old days?” Team Italy manager Mike Piazza said. “They wanted to see from '93, '94, '95. I was like, 'OK, I'll bring it back.'” Italy
If you look close, something's brewing with Team Italy
As Team Italy prepares for its Saturday matchup against Panama at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taiwan, we may be learning more about what makes this squad tick. During its Friday night game against Chinese Taipei, some unusual equipment was spotted in the team’s dugout.
Chinese Taipei tops Italy to earn first '23 Classic win
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- Right after Tzu-Wei Lin crushed a home run to right field in the bottom of the first to send the sellout Taiwanese crowd into a frenzy, you knew this game had the potential to be a high-scoring one. The fans, loud as ever, wanted it. And, well,
Italy staves off Cuba in thrilling extras win
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- Cuba and Italy had never faced off in World Baseball Classic play before their matchup in Pool A at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium. But after Thursday night, fans may want them to face off in every WBC.
Breaking down World Baseball Classic Pool A
When Pool A play in Taichung, Taiwan, concludes, many expect that Cuba and the Netherlands will move on to the quarterfinals in Tokyo, but the margins are a lot closer than you may think at first glance. Italy -- led by manager Mike Piazza -- has Major League stars joined
The Team Italy pitcher related to Rocky
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- It'd be hard to find many more iconic figures in all of Americana than Rocky. There have been, what feels like, 100,000 movies made about him. The Rocky Steps in Philadelphia are one of the top tourist attractions along the East Coast. Everyone can do a Sylvester
A Hall of Fame party is breaking out at the Classic
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- Looking up at the podium, it'd be hard to find a better full battery in baseball history. There was the Netherlands' pitching coach, one of the best curveball artists to ever toe a rubber. He had two World Series wins, 287 victories and more than 3,700 strikeouts
Pasquantino bonding with Italy teammates
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World’s stars align as Classic rosters announced
It’s nearly here. After a six-year wait, the World Baseball Classic has returned, and it’s bigger than ever. That’s not hyperbole, either: The tournament field has been expanded to 20 teams, with three first-time participants in Great Britain, the Czech Republic and Nicaragua hoping for a Cinderella run. But they’ll
Watch Mike Piazza give Team Italy a tour of its home country
When Mike Piazza took over as manager for Team Italy, there was already plenty of excitement: Here was one of the greatest Italian-American ballplayers in history, a bona fide Hall of Famer, who wanted to show just what Team Italy could do at the World Baseball Classic. But before the
The history of baseball in Italy
Although efforts to popularize baseball in Italy failed to gain traction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the sport eventually established a foothold in the country after American soldiers brought the game with them during World War II, playing during their free time and attracting the interest of
Pasquantino headlines Team Italy's Classic roster
After playing for Team Italy in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, Hall of Famer Mike Piazza is now managing the squad in 2023. And the roster at Piazza’s disposal features several big leaguers, some notable prospects and one particularly interesting pitching addition. Team Italy’s 30-man roster for the