Team Italy Prepares for 2026 World Baseball Classic with Yankees Minor League Series

Team Italy is currently engaged in a series of preparatory matches against New York Yankees minor league teams in Tampa, Florida, as they build towards the 2026 World Baseball Classic. These games feature a roster primarily composed of players from the Italian Serie A, providing valuable playing time and experience ahead of the tournament.

Recent Match Results

The first of these preparatory matches concluded with a defeat for the Italian team. The game was played at the Player Development Facility in Tampa, with careful management of player workloads and pitch counts. The final score was not publicly released.

Jhorjan Guevara hit a home run during the match, expressing his satisfaction with the team’s progress. According to FIBS, Guevara stated, “I was very focused and it was very satisfying. After the winter and so many months without playing it’s always difficult to get back on track, but here in the United States we’re doing well. We are a very united team, we are all working together and being in these places is something extraordinary, which gives us confidence to move forward.”

Upcoming Schedule

Team Italy will continue their series against Yankees minor league teams with another match on Wednesday at 7:00 PM Italian time, also in Tampa. Further games are scheduled against the Netherlands and another Yankees minor league team, followed by a match against a Tampa Bay Rays minor league team. Following these games, the players selected for the World Baseball Classic will travel to Phoenix, while the remaining players will return to Italy.

Team Italy’s World Baseball Classic Preparations

The coaching staff for Team Italy includes Yankees legend Jorge Posada as a coach, alongside manager Francisco Cervelli. Former Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has received an invitation to play for Italy, though he has not yet confirmed his participation. Anthony Volpe, the Yankees shortstop, will not participate due to recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.

Confirmed players for Team Italy include Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone from the Kansas City Royals. Kyle Teel, a catcher for the Chicago White Sox, is also a potential addition to the roster.

2026 World Baseball Classic Overview

The 2026 World Baseball Classic will begin on March 5 and conclude on March 17, with games held in Puerto Rico, Japan, and the United States. A total of 20 teams will participate, with 190 Major League Baseball players representing their countries. Italy, managed by Cervelli, is actively preparing its roster for the competition.

Team USA is aiming for redemption after losing to Japan in the 2023 final.