Team Italy's John Andreoli on the fast track to MLB
After signing a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners in January and playing in 19 Cactus League games during 2018 Spring Training in Arizona, Team Italy outfielder John Andreoli was assigned to Triple-A affiliate Tacoma Rainiers. 
Starting the season as the team's leadoff hitter, John Andreoli has since flourished by leading the squad in RBI (14), slugging percentage (.596), stolen bases (2), and triples (1) as well as ranking second in batting average (.346), hits (18), doubles (5), homers (2), runs (13) and total bases (31). Proud Italian American John Andreoli was on an express train to MLB before a dislocated finger brought his an eight-game hitting streak--during which time he went 14-for-35 with 15 RBI--to a screeching halt that derailed him onto the 7-day disabled list effective April 22, 2018.
Loyal Team Italy supporters know what John Andreoli is capable of doing based on his performance in the 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He went 6-for-16 with three home runs, five runs scored and seven RBI in the tournament. On opening night against host and favorite Mexico, John Andreoli had the walkoff hit which sent the hardcore Mexican fans home from the sold-out Estadio de Beisbol Charros de Jalisco in disbelief after the Italians came back from a four-run deficit to win 10-9. He nearly repeated another heroic moment when his solo home run gave Team Italy a narrow lead in the tie-breaker game against Venezuela; however, the Azzurri could not hold on in their 4-3 loss in the elimination game. The heartbreaking defeat was one of two on-run losses to Venezuela. During the tournament, John Andreoli went 6-for-16 with three home runs, five runs scored and seven RBI in four games.
The 27-year-old Seattle Mariners prospect wishes that the outcome would have been different for Team Italy, but he learned a great deal from the invaluable experience competing with the game's elite in the 2017 WBC. John Andreoli said, "I would have liked to win a couple of those close games, but regardless I really enjoyed the experience. It was definitely worth the trip and an experience I’ll hold onto forever. It was definitely something where I felt I grew as a player just playing through that. The atmosphere is there you don’t see anywhere in the minor leagues. A couple guys on our team had played in the playoffs, and we had a couple guys in the World Series that said it was very similar to that atmosphere. In some cases it was a little more intense because you’re only playing one team once instead of a series, so every pitch and out is huge." Let's hope John Andreoli makes the jump up to the Seattle Mariners soon so that he too can experience the MLB playoffs and maybe even the World Series... Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen
by Roberto Angotti
