Undefeated USA looks to advance with win vs. Italy (9 p.m. ET, FS1)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Peña, Dezenzo trade Astros caps for D.R. and Italy en route to Classic
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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