Talented Team Italy takes control of its destiny for the 2017 World Baseball Classic

Team Italy manager Marco Mazzieri and his squadra Azzurri are ready to take on Mexico, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico in the March 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico. The 2017 WBC serves as a pivotal prelude to baseball’s return to the Olympics in 2020. Mazzieri, who also operates as the LA Dodger’s Italian scout, has an instinctive knack for recruiting the finest MLB-affiliated passport players, Americans of Italian descent who are eligible to play for Team Italy. The “Italian American factor” strengthens the hand-picked and talented Italian national team, thereby increasing Italy’s chances for success.

Encouraged by his team’s desire and enthusiasm to win, Mazzieri said: “By trying to make this team, what I look for is to have those guys who really want to be there because their motivation will make a difference. If you look at the other teams with all those names, it’s going to be tough, because they all have All-Star teams. We can’t worry about the opposition. We have to give it all out and minimize mistakes to maximize results and we’ll be fine.”

Skipper Mazzieri, with the assistance of coaches Frank Catalanotto and Nick Punto, have solidified a truly talented roster including 12 current or former Major Leaguers, two of whom are former MLB #1 draft picks. With Mazzieri at the helm, Team Italy 2017 is an intriguing entry and a dangerous threat likely to upset the favorites in this year’s World Baseball Classic. Now let’s break down the 2017 Team Italy WBC roster:

Catchers

Team Italy is led by a dynamic duo of MLB veteran catchers, Francisco Cervelli (Pirates) and Drew Butera (Royals), both known for calling quality games behind the plate and coming through in the clutch. FIBS Italian Baseball Academy graduate/catcher Marco Sabbatani supports as the third catcher on the Team Italy roster. At the recent Italian American Baseball Family official launch dinner in December at Carmine’s Restaurant in Brooklyn, Butera, who has caught two no-hitters in his MLB career, commented on Team Italy’s prospects in the WBC. “We’re not just here as a goodwill cause,” he said. “We have a lot of great players and we’re here to compete and win the whole thing.”

Pitchers

The Italy pitching staff features three well-known MLB bullpen standouts: 32-year-old lefty reliever Tommy Layne (Yankees), ambidextrous specialist Pat Venditte (Mariners) and right-hander A.J. Morris, who made his MLB debut last year for the Cincinnati Reds. The Italians also get a boost from several formidable Minor League standouts including: former Padres and Diamondbacks prospect Mike DeMark (RHP), who recently signed with CPBL’s Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in Taiwan; former Cubs farmhand Alessandro Maestri (RHP), who comes from a 2016 season played between Japan and South Korea; and former Blue Jays Minor Leaguer Tiago Da Silva (RHP), who recently pitched for Venezuela in the 2017 Caribbean Series.

In addition, Team Italy has its share of up-and-coming MLB pitching prospects including Trey Nielsen (RHP-Cardinals AAA Memphis Redbirds), Sam Gaviglio (RHP-Mariners AAA Tacoma Rainiers), Luis Lugo (LHP-Indians AAA Columbus Clippers), Jordan Romano (RHP-Blue Jays A

Lansing) and Nick Fanti (LHP-Phillies Rookie GCL). Affiliated with Team Italy for over a decade, 36-year- old lefty Junior Oberto leads a pair of promising Italian national team pitchers in Carlos Teran (RHP) and Frailyn Florian (LHP) to complete the Azzurri pitching roster.

Infielders

Slugger first baseman Chris Colabello (Indians AAA Columbus Clippers) loves playing for Team Italy. His performance in the 2013 WBC tournament was memorable when he went 5-for-18 with two home runs and seven RBI. Like a fine Italian wine, corner infielder Alex Liddi gets better with age. 28-year old Liddi, the first player born and developed in Italy, returns to his former home stadium in Guadalajara where he played winter ball during the 2015-16 season. Both players give Team Italy its much needed power to compete effectively against other teams and their elite players in the 2017 WBC.

Welcome additions to the Azzurri include second baseman Daniel Descalso (Diamondbacks), third baseman Rob Segedin (Dodgers) as well as shortstops Gavin Cecchini (Mets 2012 #1 draft pick) and Drew Maggi (Dodgers AAA Oklahoma City). Second baseman Alessandro Vaglio, the FIBS Italian

Baseball Academy alumnus famous for fielding the final ground out to secure Italy’s 6-5 win against Mexico in the 2013 WBC, plays in his second consecutive WBC.

Outfielders

Italy’s other big leaguers include hustling outfielders John Andreoli (Cubs) and Brandon Nimmo (Mets 2011 #1 draft pick). These future stars add punch to the Azzurri lineup as well as lightning speed on the base paths. Former Mariners Minor Leaguer Mario Chiarini returns to the Azzurri

outfield to make his third consecutive WBC appearance. FIBS Italian Baseball Academy grad Sebastiano Poma, who made his Team Italy debut at the 2016 All-Star Game after hitting .369 for San Marino in the IBL and winning the batting title, rounds out the field.

Team Italy exhibits unparalleled pride and passion to fuel their playing as they prepare to compete in the 2017 WBC. Before traveling to Guadalajara to battle Mexico, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, Team Italy plays exhibition games against the Chicago Cubs on March 7, 2017 and against the Oakland A’s on March 8, 2017, with both games held in Mesa, Arizona.

Team Italy manager Marco Mazzieri knows the importance of these contests. It is the first opportunity to see his Italian national team coalesce with the Italian American MLB-affiliated players in a competitive setting. In addition, it is Mazzieri’s last opportunity to fine-tune the Team Italy roster before they take on their opponents in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Forza Italia!

Roberto Angotti