2026 Italy World Baseball Classic Roster

With the 2026 World Baseball Classic set to begin in March, the preliminary roster for Italy is here. Initial rosters are subject to change. Read on below for our team summary and breakdown of top players and prospects to know.

Find all of our WBC coverage here.

Team Summary: Thanks to the Serie A/1 league, Italy has long been one of the stalwarts of European baseball. But it’s the massive influx of American-born players of Italian descent that has been key to making Italy a very frisky WBC opponent.

In 2023, Italy was part of a wild five-team tiebreaker that saw all five clubs in Pool A go 2-2. Thanks to the complicated tiebreaker (runs allowed per defensive out), Italy advanced to the second round, where it was quickly bounced by Japan 9-3 in the quarterfinals. Italy also advanced out of the first round in 2013, when it beat Mexico and Canada before losing to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in second-round pool play.

Like usual, this is a very solid Italian team. The vast majority of the roster has MLB or MiLB experience. Infield defense may be a bit of a question mark, as Miles Mastrobuoni, usually a second or third baseman, looks to be the best shortstop on the team. But power shouldn’t be a problem, and there is plenty of veteran pitching.

Top Players: 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, OF Jac Caglianone, OF Dominic Canzone, C Kyle Teel and 3B Andrew Fischer give this team the ability to make pitchers pay dearly for mistakes. This team has excellent power potential, and OF Jakob Marsee should be a good table-setter.

The rotation includes RHP Aaron Nola, RHP Matt Festa and RHP Michael Lorenzen.

Top Prospects: 3B Andrew Fischer ranks 12th in the Brewers’ Top 30. He was a first-round pick (20th overall) in 2025. OF Nick Morabito ranks 11th in the Mets’ Top 30. OF Dante Nori is the seventh-ranked prospect in the Phillies’ system. 2B Sam Antonacci is the seventh-ranked prospect for the White Sox.

Pool B

• United States
• Mexico
• Italy
• Great Britain
• Brazil

Dates/Location: March 6-11, Houston, Texas.

Italy World Baseball Classic Roster

playerposbatsthrowsheightweightageml orgclub Aldegheri, Sam LHP L L 6-01 210 24 LAA Los Angeles Angels Altavilla, Dan RHP R R 5-11 235 33 MIN St. Paul Saints (AAA) Delucia, Dylan RHP R R 5-11 220 25 CLE Columbus Clippers (AAA) Ercolani, Alessandro RHP R R 6-02 185 21 PIT Indianapolis Indians (AAA) Festa, Matt RHP R R 6-01 195 32 CLE Cleveland Guardians Graceffo, Gordon RHP R R 6-04 220 25 STL St. Louis Cardinals Jacob, Alek RHP L R 6-03 190 27 SD San Diego Padres La Sorsa, Joe LHP L L 6-05 232 27 PIT Indianapolis Indians (AAA) Lorenzen, Michael RHP R R 6-03 217 34 COL Colorado Rockies Marinaccio, Ron RHP R R 6-02 205 30 SD San Diego Padres Nicolas, Kyle RHP R R 6-03 225 26 PIT Pittsburgh Pirates Nola, Aaron RHP R R 6-02 200 32 PHI Philadelphia Phillies Ottavino, Adam RHP R R 6-05 246 40 – Quattrini, Gabriele RHP R R 6-04 260 29 Macerata Angels (ITA) Weissert, Greg RHP R R 6-02 235 31 BOS Boston Red Sox Mineo, Alberto C L R 5-09 198 31 Parma Baseball (ITA) Teel, Kyle C L R 6-00 210 23 CWS Chicago White Sox Antonacci, Sam INF L R 6-00 193 22 CWS Birmingham Barons (AA) Berti, Jon INF R R 5-10 190 36 – Dezenzo, Zach INF R R 6-05 220 25 HOU Houston Astros Fischer, Andrew 3B L R 6-01 210 21 MIL Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A+) Lasaracina, Giaconino INF R R 6-02 220 22 Parma Baseball (ITA) Mastrobuoni, Miles UTL L R 5-10 185 30 SEA Seattle Mariners Pasquantino, Vinnie 1B L L 6-03 245 28 KC Kansas City Royals Saggese, Thomas 2B R R 5-11 185 23 STL St. Louis Cardinals Caglianone, Jac OF L L 6-05 250 22 KC Kansas City Royals Canzone, Dominic OF L R 6-00 190 28 SEA Seattle Mariners Marsee, Jakob OF L L 6-00 180 24 MIA Miami Marlins Morabito, Nick OF R R 5-10 185 22 NYM New York Mets Nori, Dante OF L L 5-09 190 21 PHI Reading Fightin Phils (AA)