Team Italy roster revealed for 2023 World Baseball Classic

Team Italy roster revealed for 2023 World Baseball Classic
09/02/2023
With less than a month to go for Team Italy before the start of 2023 World Baseball Classic Group A action in Taichung, Taiwan, Azzurri manager Mike Piazza leads a promising squad of players to success

20 teams are participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, which begins on March 8, 2023 and finishes on March 21, 2023 in Miami. Team Italy plays its first game of the international tournament against Cuba on March 9, 2023 in Taichung, Taiwan. The Italians compete in Group A with host Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Panama and Kingdom of the Netherlands. Honoring their Italian origins by putting forth their best combined effort, the Azzurri roster includes a mix of emerging young prospects, players seeking redemption as well as seasoned professional baseball veterans.

Leading Team Italy is manager Mike Piazza, who participates in his second international tourney as manager of the Azzurri squad after winning the bronze medal in 2021 European Baseball Championship. At his side is Blake Butera (bench coach, coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system and two-time Carolina League manager of the year), Chris Denorfia (hitting coach, minor league coach for Colorado Rockies, former MLB and Team Italy player in 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics), Jack Santora (infield coach, former minor leaguer and Team Italy player in three World Baseball Classics as well as contributor to two European Baseball Championship titles in 2010 and 2012), Mike Borzello (pitching coach, coach with extensive experience under manager Joe Torre's NY Yankees and LA Dodgers and independently with the 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs, Michele Gerali (outfield coach, and permanent member of the Team Italy and Parma Baseball coaching staff), Jason Simontacchi (bullpen coach, Team Italy pitcher in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, former St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals and Kansas City Royals pitching coordinator) and Joe Hsu (assistant hitting coach in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and longtime coordinator of player development in the MLB Academies in China).

According to the WBC tournament regulations, the team heading to Taichung must be made up of a total of 30 players (at least 14 pitchers and 2 catchers). it is also possible to draw from a list of other extra pitchers (DPP) who are available and can be used for the next stages.

The following players will represent Team Italy in the 2023 WBC:

No.Last NameFirst NamePositionBatting       (R/L/S)Throwing (R/L)Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy)Club Affiliation
DPPAIELLOVINCENZORHPRightRight06/08/94FREE AGENT
DPPALBANESEGLENN STEVENRHPRightRight10/22/98ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS (AA)
DPPBASSANIALEXRHPRightRight11/25/90FORTITUDO BOLOGNA
1BIAGINIJOSEPH CARLORHPRightRight05/29/90FREE AGENT
DPPBOCCHIMATTEORHPRightRight07/19/96PARMA CLIMA
2CASTELLANIRYAN MICHAELRHPRightRight04/01/96FREE AGENT
DPPDA SILVATIAGO FELIPERHPRightRight03/28/85SAN MARINO
3DELUZIOBENJAMIN AMADEOOFRightRight08/09/94CHICAGO CUBS 
DPPERCOLANIALESSANDRORHPRightRight04/20/04FCL PIRATES (Rookie)
4FANTINICHOLASLHPLeftLeft12/30/96FREE AGENT
5FESTAMATTHEW JOSEPHRHPRightRight03/11/93SEATTLE MARINERS
6FLETCHERDAVID OWENIFRightRight05/31/94LOS ANGELES ANGELS
7FLETCHERDOMINIC PAULOFLeftRight09/02/97RENO ACES (AAA)
8FRELICKSALVATORE MICHAELOFLeftRight04/19/00NASHVILLE SOUNDS (AAA)
9FRISCIAVITO JOSEPHC/OFRightRight12/19/96LEHIGH VALLEY IRON PIGS (AAA)
10GARCIAROBEL ESTIWALIFSwitchRight03/28/93FREE AGENT
11GAVIGLIOSAMUEL JOSEPHRHPRightRight05/22/90FREE AGENT
12HARVEYMATTHEW EDWARDRHPRightRight03/27/89FREE AGENT
13LASORSAJOSEPH PETERLHPLeftLeft04/29/98MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (AA)
14LOPEZNICHOLAS PAULIFLeftRight03/13/95KANSAS CITY ROYALS
15LORENZINIBRAXTON RYANRHPRightRight05/04/95FREE AGENT
16MARCIANOJOSEPH JAMESLHPLeftLeft01/11/95SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS (AAA)
DPPMARCONIBRIAN AUSTINLHPRightLeft05/09/97PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (AAA)
17MASTROBUONIMILES JAMESIF/OFLeftRight10/31/95CHICAGO CUBS (AAA)
18MINEOALBERTOCLeftRight07/23/94PARMA CLIMA
19MIROGLIODOMINIC OKUNCRightRight03/10/95RENO ACES (AAA)
20NITTOLIMICHAEL VINCENTRHPRightRight11/11/90CHICAGO CUBS
21PALLANTENEIL ANDRERHPRightRight09/18/98ST LOUIS CARDINALS
22PASQUANTINOVINCENT JOSEPHIFLeftLeft10/10/97KANSAS CITY ROYALS
DPPPASSANTINOJEFFREYRHPRightRight09/24/95ALTOONA CURVE (AA)
23PINAZZINICOLO'LHPLeftLeft10/25/99DAYTONA TORTUGAS (A)
24SCOTTICLAUDIORHPRightRight07/08/98ST LUCIE METS (A)
25STUMPOMITCHELL ANTHONYRHPRightRight06/17/96RENO ACES (AAA)
26SULLIVANBRETT CHARLESCLeftRight02/22/94EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS (AAA)
27TIMPANELLIVINCENT THOMASRHPRightRight10/02/98CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS (AA)
28VALENTEJOHN MARCOIFSwitchRight06/23/95TOLEDO MUD HENS (AAA)
29VASSALOTTIMICHELE ANTONIORHPRightRight02/08/00BILOXI SHUCKERS (AA)
30WOODSSTEPHEN HUGORHPRightRight06/10/95FREE AGENT

TEAM ITALY SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 9, 2023: Italy - Cuba (6 am ET)

Friday, March 10, 2023: Italy - Chinese Taipei (6 am ET)

Saturday, March 11, 2023: Panama - Italy (Friday, March 10 @11 pm ET)

Sunday, March 12, 2023: Kingdom of the Netherlands - Italy (6 am ET)

THE NEXT STAGE

The top two teams in the group will advance to the second round, which will be played at the Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan).

The quarterfinals will take place in Tokyo (March 15-16) with the winners of Groups A and B and Miami (March 17-18) with the winners of Groups C and D. The semifinals and finals will take place at LoanDepot Park in Miami (March 19-21).

LA STORIA DEL WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

THE STORY OF THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

The World Baseball Classic, now in its fifth edition and recognized by the WBSC as a Baseball World Championship, will see for the first time the participation of 20 nations, 10 from the Americas, 4 from Asia, 1 from Oceania and 5 from Europe . Italy has taken part in every Classic, qualifying for the second stage in 2013 and coming close to qualifying for the second stage in 2017, when Venezuela defeated the Azzurri in the play-off 4-3.

In 2023, the national team will be led by the manager and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Mike Piazza and for the first time will be involved in a first phase group in Asia, to be precise at the Taichung International Baseball Stadium in the town located at center of the island of Taiwan.

The United States are the defending champions thanks to their success in the 2017 final against Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic (2013) and Japan (2 times, 2006 and 2009) are also among the winning nations at the World Baseball Classic.

THE STORY OF THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

The World Baseball Classic, now in its fifth edition and recognized by the WBSC as a Baseball World Championship, will see for the first time the participation of 20 nations, 10 from the Americas, four from Asia, one from Oceania and five from Europe. Team Italy has taken part in every World Baseball Classic, qualifying for the second round in 2013 and coming close to qualifying for the second round in 2017, when Venezuela defeated the Azzurri in the tiebreaker playoff 4-3.

Team USA is the defending champion after defeating Puerto Rico in the 2017 WBC final. Other past winners include: Dominican Republic (2013) and Japan (2006 and 2009). Forza #Italia!

OFFICIAL WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC WEBSITE

by Roberto Angotti

(Photo of Team Italy's Alberto Mineo and Vito Friscia at Haarlem Week 2022 by K73-NADOC)