Team Italy’s John Andreoli is impressive in his MLB debut for the Seattle Mariners

Team Italy’s John Andreoli was called up from Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to make his MLB debut for the Seattle Mariners on May 23, 2018. The 27-year-old outfielder started in right field and batted eighth against the Oakland A's at the Oakland Coliseum. In his first big league game, John Andreoli singled, walked and made a potentially game-saving catch in the bottom of the eighth inning when he robbed A’s catcher Johnathan Lucroy of an extra-base hit with a remarkable sliding grab to protect the Mariners’ slim 1-0 lead and eventual win.

After the game, John Andreoli was full of emotion with his father watching nearby. "It was unbelievable," said Andreoli, who signed a Minor League deal with the Mariners in January. "It was so much fun, everything you could have dreamed of." In his eighth professional season, John Andreoli batted .294 with three home runs, seven doubles, two triples and 20 RBI during his 32 games with Triple-A Tacoma. The speedy Italian American, who spent his first seven years in the Chicago Cubs organization was a perfect nine-for-nine in stolen base attempts.

Asked about his experienced playing for Team Italy in the 2017 World Baseball Classic in Mexico, John Andreoli smiled. He said, “It was awesome. A lot of the guys on the team that were in the big leagues said it was very similar to the playoffs to that atmosphere we had in Guadalajara. Just to have that in my back pocket of what to expect is big. To play against guys on Venezuela and Puerto Rico that were MLB All-Stars and played in the World Series and to know that I can compete against them and do well is good going forward for my career.” Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

                                                                                               by Roberto Angotti