Dan Bonanno has played an integral role in the growth of baseball in Europe and Italy for more than 20 years. He will be honored with an IABF Ambassador Award during IABF’s annual gala on November 30.

The Racine, Wisconsin native played ball at Grand Canyon University in Arizona before making his journey to play professionally in Italy, where he was part of Nettuno, Milano, and Santarcangelo from 1982 through 1988. In 1989, he began his career as a manager and spent time in Godo, Santarcangelo, and San Marino and later as a coach in Rimini and San Marino.

As an employee of Major League Baseball since 2000, his role includes organizing European Game Development programs and working directly as MLB’s International Baseball Operations representative with individual European federations, European national academies, and the WBSC-Europe.  

IABF debuted the Ambassador Award in 2022 and presented it to Marco Landi, the head of communication and marketing of the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball. Former Italia player and manager Sal Varriale will also receive an IABF Ambassador Award this year.

Tickets, tables, and sponsorships are officially available now! More IABF honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.