With espresso shots, kisses on the cheek, and Andrea Bocelli singalongs, Team Italy has charmed at the World Baseball Classic. But their mission is more ambitious: Turn Italy into a bona fide baseball factory.
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Alex Slitz/Getty Images
When a Team Italy player hits a home run, he dons an Armani jacket and takes a shot of espresso (and don’t forget the kiss on each cheek from the team captain).
Forget the game ball given to the player who made the biggest difference; in this clubhouse, there’s a game bottle of wine. And all of it is set to a soundtrack of Andrea Bocelli, the legendary Italian opera singer.
This is Team Italy, the unlikely underdog of the World Baseball Classic, whose celebrations and gioia di vivere have charmed baseball fans far beyond the shores of the Mediterranean. And their unexpected success on the field — undefeated in pool play, including a stunning 8-6 win over Team USA on Tuesday — means they have as clear a path to a title as any of their competitors.
“There’s another team in the world that can play baseball,” said Italian manager Francisco Cervelli this week. “This tournament is so amazing because everybody expected only four teams to make it.
But when you receive such a surprise, the game expands globally.”
Now, the Azzurri — also known as the Blues for the traditional Savoy blue of the Italian national team uniforms — are advancing to the quarterfinals, where they have the opportunity to surpass their best-ever finish in the event’s history with a victory over Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Since then, he has played a pivotal role in recruiting fellow players and fostering unity between the Italians and Italian-Americans on the team. This bond began during their flight together from spring training, where they sang along to Andrea Bocelli at the top of their lungs, creating an unforgettable experience.
Vinnie Pasquantino, a member of Team Italy, envisions a future where the team is comprised of native-born Italians rather than Americans like himself. He aims to showcase Italy’s baseball talent and attract more investments in local players.
Baseball faces challenges in Italy, where the sport is not as popular as soccer or other athletic activities. The lack of exposure to baseball on TV makes it difficult to attract young players to the sport. Marco Mazzieri, a former professional player and president of the Italian Baseball Federation, highlights the struggles of developing baseball culture in Italy.
Despite these obstacles, Pasquantino and his teammates aspire to make a Cinderella run in the tournament to raise awareness and support for baseball in Italy. They hope their success will bring attention to the sport and create more opportunities for youth players.
The road ahead is tough, with Team Italy facing strong competition from countries with many MLB All-Stars. However, the team is determined to make an impact and put Italy on the map in the world of baseball. Italy has surprised everyone in the World Baseball Classic by remaining undefeated and topping Pool B. This unexpected success has garnered the team significant media coverage, with prominent Italian newspapers like Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport featuring supportive columns and full-page articles about the team’s achievements. Even Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni acknowledged the team’s upset victory over the United States in Parliament.
The increased attention on the Italian team could potentially lead to more government funding for the federation, as well as lucrative sponsorships and television broadcasts. This positive momentum may also pave the way for more significant opportunities, such as baseball’s return to the Olympics in 2028.
Catcher Francisco Cervelli, one of the key players on the team, has been inundated with messages and calls following their remarkable win over the U.S. He described it as one of the best days of his life and remains focused on continuing their winning streak.
Pitcher Sam Aldegheri, the first Italian-born player to reach the major leagues, expressed his pride in representing his country during the tournament. He felt the support from back home during the playing of the Italian national anthem and is eager to contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming quarterfinal matchup against Puerto Rico.
Despite baseball not being a mainstream sport in Italy, the growing popularity of the game is evident through the team’s impressive performance in the World Baseball Classic. Aldegheri emphasized the indescribable feeling of playing for his country and the overwhelming support from his homeland, making the experience truly remarkable. following sentence:
The cat sat lazily in the sunbeam, its eyes half-closed in contentment.
