Team Italy manager Gibo Gerali announces roster for Super 6 Baseball

Team Italy manager Gilberto “Gibo” Gerali has announced the names of the 24 players that make up the Azzurri roster for . The international competition will be held at the ETO Ballpark in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands from September 18-23, 2018. The men’s baseball team faces tough competitors Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Spain.

Team Italy baseball kicks off the six-nation tourney with a pair of 11 am morning games (5 am EDT) against Germany on September 18 and Belgium on September 19. In what will prove to be the most important contest of the Super 6, Team Italy clashes with the Netherlands under the lights on September 20 at 7:30 pm (1:30 pm EDT). Subsequent battles against Czech Republic on September 21 at 3:30 pm (9:30 am EDT) and Spain on September 22 at 11 am (5 am EDT) follow. The Super 6 baseball championship between the two top teams takes place on September 23 at 1:30 pm. All games will be streamed live on

The Azzurri roster is filled with top-tier talent experienced in Major League Baseball. Although brothers Vince, Joe, and Dom DiMaggio may be the most famous Italian American Baseball Family, the Colabellos are a perfect example of the modern day Italian American Baseball Family. Father Lou Colabello was the starting pitcher for Team Italy against host Team USA at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympics while his son Chris Colabello later played baseball in Italy as a youth. Like father, like son and Chris Colabello eventually went on to represent Team Italy in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics. He recently reunited with childhood friend Alessandro Maestri to play for T&A San Marino in the summer of 2018 during which he hit four home runs in nine games. Both players spent their formative years competing against each other in the Emilia-Romagna region. While Chris Colabello returned to his native Massachusetts to play high school baseball, Alessandro Maestri remained in Italy to attend the Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) Academy to launch his career. Chris Colabello made his MLB debut (Minnesota Twins, 2013) and two years later led the Toronto Blue Jays to the 2015 American League postseason. The proud Italian American has since authored a new book with hitting instructor Bobby Tewksbary entitled .

Patriarch Alessandro Maestri made his pitching debut representing Team Italy in the 2006 World Baseball Classic under the guidance of teammate and National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza. “When you think of talent in Italy, you think of Alessandro Maestri and Alex Liddi,” said Mike Piazza. Alessandro Maestri was the first-born and developed pitcher signed by an MLB organization (Chicago Cubs, 2006). As a starter and reliever in the Chicago Cubs minor league system for five seasons, he compiled a 24-17 record with a 3.75 ERA and 19 saves. A two-time Minor League Baseball All-Star, Alessandro Maestri was best known for his striking out batters with his elusive slider. After a five-year stint in Minor League Baseball, he ventured Down Under to pitch for the Brisbane Bandits during the 2011-12 Australian Baseball League season (ABL). At the conclusion of the Super 6 competition, Alessandro Maestri will prepare for his encore in the ABL, but this time around he will pitching for the Sydney Blue Sox. This past summer he pitched for San Marino in Italy’s Serie A1 League. Alessandro Maestri limited opponents to a deafening .193 batting average. The 33-year-old international baseball ambassador is as effective as ever on the mound and is currently experiencing a resurgence in his colorful career.

Azzurri third baseman Alex Liddi is Italian baseball's greatest export and the well-respected face of the growing sport in Europe. With the opportunity to help spark interest in the game at home by competing at the highest level, he has inspired young Italian MLB prospects Marten Gasparini (Kansas City Royals) and Leonardo Seminati (Cincinnati Reds). Last seen playing for the Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Team Italy slugger Alex Liddi hopes for a speedy return to Major League Baseball. The San Remo native made history as the first Italian-born and developed player to make his MLB debut on September 7, 2011 for the Seattle Mariners. Alex Liddi later went on to play in the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. He is now in his second stint within the Kansas City Royals system. In five 2018 Royals Spring Training games in Arizona, Alex Liddi hit .333 (2-for-6) with one home run. He ended his 2018 campaign with a .247 batting average, but once again demonstrated his power stroke by being the Texas League's third-best hitter in homers (23) and fifth-highest in slugging percentage (.482).

After spending seven years in the Cleveland Indians organization and signing a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on December 1, 2017, Venezuelan-born Luis Lugo migrated back to his Italian roots by pitching for Parma Clima in Italy’s Serie A1 League this summer. The 24-year-old left-handed pitcher is no newcomer to Italian baseball as has represented the Azzurri in international competition since 2015 when he started for Team Italy in the Premier 12 against Canada. He returned as Team Italy’s starting pitcher twice in 2017. The first start was against the Chicago Cubs during an MLB Spring Training game which was followed by appearance in the World Baseball Classic against Puerto Rico. After dominating hitters pitching for Parma Clima in Italy’s Series A-1 League this summer, the Kansas City Royals signed Luis Lugo to a minor league contract on July 23, 2018. Pitching for Double-A affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals with Alex Liddi as his teammate, he appeared in eight games with four starts and compiled a 1-2 record (4.18 ERA) while tossing 23.2 innings and striking out 21 batters.

Adding pitching depth to the Team Italy one-two punch of Alessandro Maestri and Luis Lugo is the promising Matteo Bocchi. The youngest of the three pitchers, Parma-native Matteo Bocchi gives the Azzurri every chance to take home the Super 6 Championship title. The Italian trio of hurlers range in experience from the NCAA Division I College World Series to a Major League Baseball Spring Training game. In his junior year at the University of Texas in Austin, Matteo Bocchi went 4-1 in 21 appearances with four starts and a 3.05 ERA. He struck out 34 batters in 28.1 innings of work. In three NCAA tournament games, he was a perfect 1-0 and allowed just one run on six hits in nine innings total. In his decisive game three start of the ESPN televised 2018 NCAA Super Regional, he earned the win to advance the Texas Longhorns to the College World Series. One of his many accomplishments to date was pitching a scoreless inning of relief against Arkansas in the College World Series on June 17, 2018. A decade ago he crossed the Atlantic and was on the first-ever Italian team (Emilia Little League, 2008) to compete in the Little League World Series. Then five years later Matteo Bocchi threw a nine-inning shutout against Czech Republic while representing Team Italy in the 2013 U18 World Cup. Most recently he was recruited to play in the 2018 Northwoods Summer Collegiate League for the Rochester Honkers. Considered an MLB prospect, Matteo Bocchi was selected to participate in the Major League Dreams Showcase at Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin, where he made a favorable impression on pro scouts by pitching a scoreless inning of relief.

Italian-born and developed catcher Alberto Mineo was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays (Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons) in the minor-league portion of the Rule 5 draft from the Chicago Cubs (Single-A affiliate South Bend Cubs) on December 14, 2017. Prior to joining the Blue Jays organization, the Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) Academy graduate spent seven years in the minor leagues. Alberto Mineo played in a Chicago Cubs Spring Training game against Team Italy at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona on March 7, 2017. He entered the contest in the fifth inning as a pinch-runner for Kyle Schwarber and made one plate appearance later in the game for the Cubs. Alberto Mineo was assigned to Single-A Advanced affiliate Dunedin Blue Jays on April 1, 2018. He served as the team’s primary catcher before being moving up to join budding superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at Triple-A Buffalo in late August. He played in four games and enjoyed success at the plate with one home run and a .462 batting average.  

Team Italy has the luxury of another very capable catcher in Italian American Beau Maggi. He was a 24th round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals out of Arizona State in 2012. Beau Maggi played three seasons in the Royals farm system and reached as high as Triple-A Omaha in 2014 before signing minor league contracts with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Angels in 2015. The 27-year-old catcher played very well this season in Italy's Serie A1 League and posted a .342 batting average for Fortitudo UnipolSai Bologna.

Older brother Drew Maggi, also drafted out of Arizona State but taken in the 15th round in the 2010 MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, joins Team Italy for the Super 6. Before making his Azzurri debut in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. infielder Drew Maggi had minor league stints with the Los Angeles Angels in 2015 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016. After returning to Triple-A Oklahoma Dodgers in 2017, he signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. Drew Maggi hit a remarkable .342 clip (13-for-38) with 11 runs scored and four RBI during 2018 Indians Spring Training in Arizona. With nine seasons under his belt in Minor League Baseball, 29-year-old Drew Maggi is knocking at the door for his chance to play in MLB. He played for Triple-A Columbus Clippers in 2018 before embarking on his European baseball journey with Team Italy in the Super 6.                                                      

Having just led Fortitudo UnipolSai Bologna to the 2018 Serie A League Championship title, captain Alessandro Vaglio is a seasoned Team Italy veteran. The Azzurri infielder is best known for fielding the game-ending ground ball at second base off the bat of Mexico's Jorge Cantu to secure Team Italy's 6-5 win in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. It was a banner year for Alessandro Vaglio as he went on to become the 2013 MVP of the Italian Baseball League. Representing Team Italy again in the 2016 Euro Baseball Championship, he led all hitters in the international tourney with 17 runs scored, a .658 on-base percentage, .920 slugging percentage and a 1.578 on-base plus slugging percentage. Alessandro Vaglio ventured down to Jalisco, Mexico with the Azzurri squad in 2017 for his second appearance in the World Baseball Classic. Sporting a .340 batting average for Fortitudo UnipolSai Bologna in 2018 Serie A1 regular season action, he was first in the Italian league in stolen bases (11), second in triples (2), and third in doubles (9). Alessandro Vaglio possesses the tactical speed and power to pose as a dangerous threat to the opposition. Confident in his team's ability, Alessandro Vaglio knows exactly why Team Italy is playing in the Super 6. He said: "Our goal when we compete in a tournament like this is always our goal to go on the field to win." The Azzurri captain is determined to inspire his teammates to give their best effort and to execute the game plan put forth by manager Gibo Gerali in the Netherlands.

Experienced Azzurri leaders Chris Colabello, Alex Liddi, Alessandro Maestri, Luis Lugo, Matteo Bocchi, Alberto Mineo, Beau Maggi, Drew Maggi, and Alessandro Vaglio will undoubtedly have a major impact on the overall performance of Team Italy in the Super 6 tourney; however, the Team Italy roster is not complete without a cast of unsung heroes which includes: Alex Bassani, P (ASD Rimini Baseball), Filippo Crepaldi, P (Fortitudo Bologna), Diego Fabiani, P (Padova Baseball Softball), Nico Garbella, OF (ASD Rimini Baseball), Robel Garcia, INF (Fortitudo Bologna), Aldo Koutsoyanopulos, OF (1949 Parma Baseball), Giuseppe Mazzanti, INF (Fortitudo Bologna), Renee Mazzocchi, P (Rangers Baseball Club), Mattia Mercuri, INF (SSD Nuova Citta Di Nettuno), Angelo Palumbo, P (Bolzano BC), Andrea Pizziconi, P (Fortitudo Bologna), Michele Pomponi, P (1949 Parma Baseball), Mattia Reginato, C (San Marino Baseball), Claudio Scotti, P (SSD Nuova Citta Di Nettuno), Valerio Simone, P (San Marino Baseball), Carlos Teran, P (Bravos de Margarita, Venezuela), and Leonardo Zileri, OF (1949 Parma Baseball).

Manager Gilberto “Gibo” Gerali will be accompanied at the Super 6 by coaches Giovanni Costa, Alberto D’Auria, Augusto Medina, Rolando Cretis, Dennis Cook and Rafael Colon, athletic trainers Massimo Baldi and Giovanni Natale, physician Andrea Pellegrini, and delegation manager Vincenzo Mignola. Team Italy has more at stake than mere European bragging rights. The ramifications of the Super 6 are significant as it serves as a path for the Italians on their road to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Forza #Italia! #ItaliaBaseball #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti