It’s a country home to football, espressos, pasta and pizza. Now, Italian baseball is taking the world by storm at the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Through to the semi-finals where they will face Venezuela, it’s a game that will have special meaning to head coach Francisco Cervelli.
Cervelli was born in Venezuela to an Italian immigrant father and Venezuelan mother, now he will coach Italia for a chance at a WBC Final berth.
There are roughly 16,000 registered baseball and softball players in Italy, with only nine Italian born players to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Born in Verona and playing for the Los Angeles Angels, Sam Aldegheri is one of three players born in Italy on the WBC roster.
However, despite the talk about Team Italy being made up of American players with Italian descent, one wonders what this will do for baseball back in the country nicknamed Il Bel Paese.
“I know there’s a lot of people that are upset that we represent Italy, being Italian-American,” said team captain Vinnie Pasquantino.
“But I take so much pride in it because it’s my roots. My family came over for a better life to America, and I honestly don’t have any issue representing those members of my family.”
Moreover, with this Italian team that has a strong Italian-American culture running through it, the tournament is more than just about baseball.
It’s about learning what it means to represent the red, white and green of Italy which is equally important.
Uniquely, for this group of players there is sense of pride in paying tribute and being part of a team that reflects different aspects of what it means to have Italian roots.
For the American born players, family immigrated to the USA for a better life, wearing the Italian blue and paying homage to those before them is additionally important.
Furthermore, helping build a baseball culture that can be taken back to the shores of the Mediterranean sea is not lost on this version of Team Italy.
“It’s just super cool to be given this opportunity from these guys,” continued Pasquantino.
“To learn about your history and to be able to perform for people in a country that baseball doesn’t exist at this level. We’re trying to get it to exist at a level somewhat like this.”
Formed in 1948, the Italian Baseball Softball Federation (FIBS) oversees what is a niche sport in Italy.
Their professional league – Serie A, has 33 teams in a league that competes from April to September.
Italy is a strong team within Europe, performing well where they have won 10 European Championships.
However, the legacy of the 2026 WBC team could leave the biggest and most lasting effect on the sport in Italy.
“After this spectacle that they’re displaying, I know a lot of people are going to want to play for this organization,” head coach Cervelli said.
With this in mind something special is building not just within the Italian dugout at the WBC, but back in the homeland.
Cafes and bars are flying the flag as Italians embrace this baseball team who are inspiring the next generation.
“I mean, there was baseball being played at bistros and cafes in Italy tonight over there,” continued Pasquantino.
“That doesn’t happen. Without the group that we have, it just doesn’t happen.
“So, we’re getting eyeballs on the sport and we’re bringing people together. And to me that’s what the World Baseball Classic is about.”
2am first pitch of the semi-final will be broadcast right across Italy; shots of espresso poured and cafes a buzz with late night Italian pride.
However, the biggest shot might just come from the bat of captain Vinnie Pasquantino, slugging Italy into an unlikely Classic Final.
That would be one spicy meatball.
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