Player News

Italian Americans in 2023 College World Series

Italian Americans appeared across several rosters and coaching staffs during the 2023 College World Series. LSU and Florida each featured multiple players, while Oral Roberts, Wake Forest, TCU, Tennessee and Stanford also had Italian American athletes or coaches represented; Virginia had none listed.

Survey: Mike Piazza Italian Baseball Fantasy Camp

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The Italian American Baseball Foundation and the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball are organizing an Italian Baseball Fantasy Camp with Mike Piazza. They are seeking feedback from prospective players through a brief survey to help inform the event.

Italian Americans Make MLB Top 100 Prospect List

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Italian American players make up nearly 10 percent of MLB’s Top 100 Prospect List. The listed prospects are Sal Frelick, Logan O’Hoppe, Cade Cavalli, Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio, Gordon Graceffo, Zach Neto, and Matt Liberatore, with additional players possibly unidentified through their mothers.

Drew Maggi Makes MLB Debut After 13 Years in Minors

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Italian American former Team Italy player Drew Maggi made his MLB debut for the Pirates on April 26 at age 33 after 13 years in the minor leagues. He struck out in one at-bat, but the emotional moment was celebrated by his family, fans and manager Derek Shelton.

Matt Quatraro Earns First MLB Win

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Italian American Matt Quatraro earned his first Major League victory as manager of the Kansas City Royals. In his first season with Kansas City, Quatraro joined the club after serving as a third base coach with the Tampa Bay Rays and a hitting coach with the Cleveland Indians.

Italian Americans Named to MLB Top 100

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Eight Italian Americans appeared on the MLB Top 100 list to open the 2023 season: Justin Verlander ranked 14th, followed by J.T. Realmuto at 29, Pete Alonso at 31, Gerrit Cole at 37, Brandon Nimmo at 54, Anthony Rizzo at 74, Aaron Nola at 79 and Joe Musgrove at 96.

Joe Pepitone, 1940-2023

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The Italian American Baseball Foundation mourned Joe Pepitone, an Italian American great who played for the Yankees, Astros, Cubs and Braves from 1962 through 1973. A three-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, Pepitone hit 219 home runs and recorded 721 RBI.

Team Italy Roster Revealed for 2023 World Baseball Classic

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Team Italy, managed by Mike Piazza, will compete in Group A of the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Taichung, Taiwan, alongside Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Panama and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The 30-player roster blends emerging prospects, redemption-seeking players and veterans, with Italy opening against Cuba on March 9.

Francesco Bonvini Earns Scholarship to College of Staten Island

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Francesco Bonvini will continue his baseball career at the College of Staten Island on an athletic scholarship. The Italian native from Parma played at Kingsborough Community College, where he was named CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and helped win a conference title.

Blake Butera Named Assistant Field Coordinator for Tampa Rays

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The Tampa Bay Rays named Italian American and Team Italy coach Blake Butera an assistant field coordinator for the 2023 season. Butera spent the previous season managing Class-A Charleston, adding minor league on-field coaching responsibilities to his baseball career.

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