The Italy national baseball team () represents Italy in international baseball competitions. The national team was ranked 16th in the world as of 2022. Like the country's association football team and other national teams, the national baseball team is known as the Azzurri ("the Blues"), and wears traditional Savoy blue on its uniforms.
Along with the Netherlands, Italy is traditionally one of the strongest European baseball powerhouses, having won the European Baseball Championship ten times since 1954 (most recently in 2012). The country has also competed in all six editions of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) since 2006, reaching the semifinals at the 2026 WBC.
History
Debut and European competition The Italian national team played its first international in a friendly against Spain on August 31, 1952, in Rome; American actor Gregory Peck, in Rome for the filming of the movie Roman Holiday, was in attendance.
Italy debuted at the inaugural European Baseball Championship in , which it won. Its early dominance in the competition was short-lived after the debut of the Netherlands in 1956, which created a heated rivalry. Italian ace Giulio Glorioso often went up against the Netherlands' Han Urbanus; Glorioso pitched two no-hitters for Italy during this period, a 1–0 loss to the Netherlands in 1960, and a win against West Germany during the 1973 European Championship.
Since then, the team has won nine gold medals at the tournament, with their most recent being in 2012. In total, Italy has won 27 medals (16 silver, 3 bronze). The only country to have fared better is the Netherlands (21 gold, 7 silver). Italy served as the host nation for the , , , , , , and games.
At the 2019 European Baseball Championship, coming in second and winning the silver medal. Among the players competing for it were John Andreoli, Chris Colabello, Filippo Crepaldi, Murilo Gouvea, Luis Lugo, Alessandro Maestri, Drew Maggi, Giuseppe Mazzanti, Sebastiano Poma, and Alessandro Vaglio.Statistiken baseball-em.de
Italy on the global stage In the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, held in Taichung, Taiwan from November 9–19, Italy finished sixth. They secured an impressive 13–3 victory over Chinese Taipei in their first game of the tournament, however, they lost their next three match-ups to Netherlands, Cuba, and Australia (13 innings). After coming back with a victory against the Philippines, Italy lost their next two to Japan and South Korea to end the round robin first phase of the tournament with a 2–5 record. Italy came back to beat South Korea in the first game of the following round, 8–3. In the battle for fifth place, Italy lost to Australia, 3–2.
On November 9, , Italy handed the U.S.A. team their only loss in Team U.S.A.'s route to win the 2007 Baseball World Cup in Taiwan. It was the U.S.'s first loss to Italy in 21 years and the first time it ever lost to Italy with professional players, as the team consisted of Major League Baseball players and top minor league prospects. Both Italy and Panama ended up with 3–4 records in the 2007 games; however, Panama's 5.85 run ratio versus Italy's 4.73 placed them in fifth place while Italy settled for sixth.
The 2009 Baseball World Cup took place from September 9–27. Seven European countries, including Italy, hosted and participated in the tournament of 22 teams. The event was made up of five groups consisting of four teams each, for a total of 20 teams. Italy (Bollate, Bologna, Codogno, Florence, Godo, Macerata, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, San Marino, Turin, Trieste, Verona, and Vicenza) and Netherlands (Rotterdam, Haarlem and Amsterdam) serve as hosts of the 16 teams of the second round (September 14–20), and therefore received first round byes. The group Italy hosted in the second round included Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles and the U.S.A.. Italy's first three match-ups against Chinese Taipei, Mexico, and Australia all resulted in losses. Their first victory came against Japan on September 18. Italy lost two more to Canada and the U.S.A. before winning their final game against Netherlands Antilles. Italy finished the second round with a 2–5 record, and were eliminated.
At the 2010 Intercontinental Cup, Italy gained the first medal in the history of the tournament, beating Chinese Taipei 4–3 in the bronze medal game,.
World Baseball Classic At the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, a new international tournament organized by Major League Baseball with IBAF sanction, Italy competed in Pool D. The pool, which included Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Australia, was played in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Italy secured an impressive 10–0 win over Australia in its first game, invoking the mercy rule after seven innings. However, they dropped their next two games to Venezuela, 6–0, and the Dominican Republic, 8–3, and failed to qualify for the second round of the tournament.
With only ten players on their roster with any major league affiliation, Italy was a heavy underdog in Pool C of the 2009 World Baseball Classic. With Canada, the U.S.A. & Venezuela completing Pool C, it was arguably the toughest pool in the WBC. Prior to the start of the WBC, Italy played two spring training games against the Washington Nationals and New York Mets. Italy trailed through most of the game against the Nationals until Chris Denorfia and Michael Costanzo drove in a run apiece in the seventh inning, and an eighth-inning two-run home run by Valentino Pascucci tied the game at six. A ninth-inning walk-off three-run home run by Roger Bernadina capped off a late rally in the Nats' 9–6 victory over Italy. Against the Mets, Italy led 2–0 going into the ninth inning. Cory Sullivan hit a two-run home run to tie the game at two, and Jeremy Reed doubled in Daniel Murphy to give the Mets a 3–2 victory.
Italy was again shut out by Venezuela in their first WBC game, 7–0 on March 7. Starter Mark DiFelice held Venezuela scoreless through the first four innings; however, Venezuela immediately took advantage of Italy's less experienced bullpen, exploding for 4 runs in the fifth. Against Canada on March 9, Italy pulled off one of the more surprising upsets in the 2009 WBC, winning 6–2, and eliminating the heavily favored Canadian team. Italy led 3–0 heading into the fourth inning, until Canada jumped on starter Dan Serafini for two runs. With the bases loaded and only one out, reliever Chris Cooper struck out Peter Orr, then got Chris Barnwell to fly out to center to end the threat, and keep Italy in the lead. In all, Italy's bullpen pitched six innings without giving up a run. With this victory, Italy faced their nemeses, Venezuela, a second time. After three scoreless innings pitched by Italian starter Adam Ottavino, Venezuela again dominated Italy's bullpen, scoring four runs in the fourth, and five in the fifth to win 10–1, and eliminate Italy from the World Baseball Classic.
Again considered a heavy underdog at the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Italy won its first two games in Pool D, 6–5 with a 9th-inning comeback over Mexico and 14–4 over Canada in a game called in the 8th inning due to the mercy rule. They lost both games in Round 2 against the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, thus eliminating them from the tournament.
Under Mike Piazza Mike Piazza, the former MLB player and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, was named the manager of the national team in 2019. He replaced Gilberto Gerali, who resigned when Italy failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Piazza had previously played for Italy at the 2006 Classic, and served as the team's hitting coach at the 2009 and 2013 WBCs. As part of his contract, he exercises control over all of the national federation's youth development system. His debut as Italy's manager was planned for the 2021 World Baseball Classic, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the 2021 European Baseball Championship held in Piedmont, the Azzurri defeated Spain to earn the bronze medal, after having lost to Israel in the semifinals. Piazza, who left partway through the tournament for his father's funeral, was replaced on the bench by Doriano Bindi.
Piazza selects mostly Italian Americans and other players from the Italian diaspora, particularly in the World Baseball Classic. Piazza has explained the practice, telling Italian media in 2024 that "sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward." He added that "my dream is to develop a native Italian in every position. Then we can have a player with dual citizenship here and there, but mainly a squadra tricolore. That is the goal."
On January 24, 2025, Piazza was replaced as manager of the senior national team by Francisco Cervelli.
Francisco Cervelli Era Under Francisco Cervelli's leadership, Italy delivered its best performance in international play with a 5 win undefeated run in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, including a surprising 8–6 victory over the United States in pool play. Italy advanced to the quarterfinals following a 9–1 victory over Team Mexico, then defeated Puerto Rico 8–6 to reach the semifinals for the first time, the furthest the Italian team has made it. Team Italy's historic WBC run came to an end in the semifinals with a 4–2 loss to Venezuela.
Current roster
will replace captain , who will miss the tournament after suffering an injury during training camp. Kyle Teel was injured in the game against the United States on March 10; he was replaced by bullpen catcher for the remainder of the group stage, with the expectation of adding Mickey Gasper for quarterfinal play.
Manager: Francisco Cervelli
Coaches: Allard Baird, Sal Fasano, Alex Maestri, Frank Menechino, Lipso Nava, Jorge Posada, Dave Righetti and Ron Wotus PlayerNo.Pos.Date of birth (age)TeamLeagueBirthplace12LHP Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball Verona53RHP Minnesota Twins (minors) Minor League Baseball Greenock, Pennsylvania77C Nettuno 1945Serie A1 Cagua10IF Chicago White Sox (minors)Minor League Baseball Springfield, Illinois1IF Troy, Michigan14RF/1B Kansas City RoyalsMajor League Baseball Tampa, Florida8OF Seattle MarinersMajor League Baseball Cleveland, Ohio22RHP Cleveland Guardians (minors)Minor League Baseball Port Orange, Florida4IF Houston AstrosMajor League Baseball Canton, Ohio28C Los Angeles Angels (minors)Minor League Baseball Maracay11IF Milwaukee Brewers (minors) Minor League Baseball Brick Township, New Jersey52RHP Cleveland Guardians Major League Baseball Brooklyn, New York44RHP St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball Wayne, New Jersey37RHP San Diego Padres Major League Baseball Spokane, Washington75LHP Pittsburgh Pirates (minors)Minor League Baseball Mount Kisco, New York24RHP Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball Anaheim, California97RHP San Diego PadresMajor League Baseball Toms River, New Jersey2IF Miami MarlinsMajor League Baseball Dearborn, Michigan41IF San Marino Baseball ClubSerie A1 Valera5UTL Seattle MarinersMajor League Baseball San Ramon, California7OF New York Mets (minors)Minor League Baseball McLean, Virginia19RHP Pittsburgh PiratesMajor League Baseball Massillon, Ohio27RHP Philadelphia PhilliesMajor League Baseball Baton Rouge, Louisiana16OF Philadelphia Phillies (minors)Minor League Baseball Toronto0RHP Manhattan, New York (C)91B Kansas City RoyalsMajor League Baseball Richmond, Virginia6IF St. Louis CardinalsMajor League Baseball Carlsbad, California98RHP Parma BaseballSerie A1 Rome3C Chicago White SoxMajor League Baseball Ridgewood, New Jersey80RHP Macerata AngelsSerie A1 Potenza Picena57RHP Boston Red SoxMajor League Baseball Bay Shore, New York
Designated Pitcher Pool: Matteo Bocchi, Jonah Dipoto, Joe Jacques, Camden Minacci, Claudio Scotti, and Mattia Sireus
Results and fixtures