Thanks to how player eligiblity works for the World Baseball Classic, Italy will benefit from being able to suit play many American-born players with Italian heritage. Team Italy’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic includes Aaron Nola, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jakob Marsee as among the notable Major Leaguers.
Pitchers
- LHP Sam Aldegheri (Angels)
- RHP Dan Altavilla (Twins)
- RHP Dylan DeLucia (Guardians)
- RHP Alessandro Ercolani (Pirates)
- RHP Matt Festa (Guardians)
- RHP Gordon Graceffo (Cardinals)
- RHP Alek Jacob (Padres)
- LHP Joe La Sorsa (Pirates)
- RHP Michael Lorenzen (Rockies)
- RHP Ron Marinaccio (Padres)
- RHP Kyle Nicolas (Pirates)
- RHP Aaron Nola (Phillies)
- RHP Adam Ottavino
- RHP Gabriele Quattrini
- RHP Greg Weissert (Red Sox)
Team Italy will dress a pitching staff made up mostly of current and former Major Leaguers.
Their starting pitching rotation will tentatively be led by Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen, both of whom have extensive MLB experience. And, this will be a significant change of pace for both pitchers, as Nola and Lorenzen represented the U.S. national teams at different levels.
Lorenzen played for the U.S. collegiate, 18U, and 16U teams, while Nola — despite being one of the best pitchers both at the college and pro levels — hasn’t pitched internationally at all.
Sam Aldegheri, who was MLB experience as a starter, is also on the roster. Aldegheri is one of three players born in Italy on the team (Alessandro Ercolani is from San Marino).
Italy’s bullpen will have plenty of different looks, led by Greg Weisser, Matt Fest, and the funky righty Alek Jacob.
Adam Ottavino, who previously pitched for Team USA in the WBC, will represent Italy this time around.
Catchers
- C Alberto Mineo
- C/OF Kyle Teel (White Sox)
Kyle Teel will get a shot to play in the World Baseball Classic, months after he completed his rookie season in the Majors. The New Jersey native — and he’s not the only person from Jersey on Team Italy — posted a .786 OPS with Chicago last season.
Alberto Mineo is a former Blue Jays farmhand.
Infielders
- MI Sam Antonacci (White Sox)
- INF Jon Berti
- INF/OF Zach Dezenzo (Astros)
- CI Andrew Fischer (Brewers)
- INF Giaconino Lasaracina
- INF Miles Mastrobuoni (Mariners)
- 1B Vinnie Pasquantino (Royals)
- INF Thomas Saggese (Cardinals)
Team Italy is heavy on left-handed hitters. So much so that the Italians have only four right-handed hitters, all of whom are among the infield core. Those righties are Berti, Dezenso, Lasaracina, and Saggese.
Berti has spent his MLB career as a versatile, speedy utiltiyman, while Dezenzo and Saggese have fought to secure regular role with their respective teams.
Giaconino Lasaracina, like Quattrini, spent time in the Italian Serie A.
Moving on to the rest of the team, Vinnie Pasquantino is back for Italy. He was one of the more productive hitters for Italy last time around, as he picked up four hits in the 2023 WBC.
Antonacci, as we noted in our White Sox farm system recap, was one of the best contact and line-drive hitters in the organization last year. He’ll be joined by slugger Andrew Fischer, a first-round pick by the Brewers in 2025.
Outfielders
- RF Jac Caglianone (Royals)
- LF/RF Dominic Canzone (Mariners)
- CF Jakob Marsee (Marlins)
- CF Nick Morabito (Mets)
- CF Dante Nori (Phillies)
Lots of speed among the outfield core.
Team Italy has several natural center fielders, including Dante Nori. Nori, a former first-round pick, is a contact hitter with flashy speed. Morabito, like Nori, is a consistent contact hitter.
Those two will be joined by three Major Leaguers.
Jac Caglianone will look for better in 2026 after he struggled to gain momentum in his rookie season with the Royals. He has a lot of power, and the same can be said for Dominic Canzone. Canzone hit 11 home runs for the Mariners last season, as he carved out a role as a platoon hitter.
Marsee, meanwhile, was one of the best on-base threats in the Majors over the final two months of 2025.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including a look at Team Colombia.