World Baseball Classic 2026: team Italy or team Italian American?

I am Italian American. I root for the New York Yankees and team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, currently underway. The USA captain is Yankee Aaron Judge: Captain America.

USA defeated Dominican Republic last night to reach the final game March 17. The other semi final game will be played tonight between Venezuela and Italy. No one questions most of the composition of the other three teams but team Italy will be examined in this post.

I rooted for Italy in all its games so far, except for the game against USA, which Italy won.

If Italy defeats Venezuela and reaches the finals, I will again root for USA. I'm an American.

Team eligibility rules include:

https://www.mlb.com/news/world-baseball-classic-rules-rule-modifications-2026

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Each player on a Federation Team’s approved Provisional Roster and Final Roster must be eligible to participate for that Federation Team. A player will be so eligible only if:

• The player previously appeared on a Federation Team’s final roster at the start of either a World Baseball Classic Qualifier or Tournament round; or
• The player is a citizen of the Federation Team’s country or territory, as evidenced by a valid passport the player holds as of three months prior to the start of the Tournament; or
• The player is currently a permanent legal resident of the Federation Team’s country or territory, as evidenced by documentation satisfactory to WBCI; or
• The player was born in the Federation Team’s country or territory, as evidenced by a birth certificate or its equivalent; or
• The player has at least one parent who is, or if deceased was, a citizen of the Federation Team’s country or territory, as evidenced by a passport or other documentation satisfactory to WBCI; or
• The player has at least one parent who was born in the Federation Team’s country or territory, as evidenced by a birth certificate or its equivalent; or
• The player presents documentary evidence satisfactory to WBCI that he would be granted citizenship or a passport in due course under the laws of the Federation Team’s country or territory (excluding any requirement of the Federation Team’s country that the player would need to renounce his current citizenship), if he were to apply for such citizenship or passport.

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I was born in Brooklyn but I would qualify for the Italian team. My father and both his parents were born in Italy; all three migrated to the USA; my father (Antonio) became a US citizen and served in the US Navy in WWII. My maternal grandfather (Rocco Venezia) was born in Italy and migrated to the USA; he became a citizen at the conclusion of his service in the US Army in WWI. Both my maternal great grandparents were born in Italy and migrated to the USA.

So how about the members of team Italy?

https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/roster/italy?season=2026

birth countries:

14 pitchers: Italy 3, USA 11

1 catcher: Venezuela

8 infielders: Venezuela 1, USA 7

5 outfielders: Canada 1, USA 4

Of 28, 22 were born in the USA.

The manager is:

Francisco Cervelli

Position: Catcher

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-0, 220lb (183cm, 99kg)

Born: March 6, 1986 (Age: 40-010d) in Valencia, Venezuela ve

Cervelli played in MLB 2008-2020 for Yankees, Pirates, Marlins, Braves.

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

14.1

AB

2256

H

605

HR

41

BA

.268

R

281

RBI

275

SB

17

OBP

.358

SLG

.382

OPS

.740

OPS+

101

With the Yankees, he was known to be Italian.

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Starting players in Italy's most recent game, defeating Puerto Rico. Links in bold are for MLB. Birth country noted. Here is the batting order:

Sam Antonacci 2B USA

Thomas Saggese SS USA (Not listed on the roster web page; Argh!)

Jakob Marsee CF USA

Vinnie Pasquantino 1B USA (3 Home Runs in previous game)

Dominic Canzone DH USA

Jac Caglianone RF USA

Andrew Fischer 3B USA

J.J. D'Orazio C Venezuela

Dante Nori LF Canada

Sam Aldegheri starting pitcher 1.1 IP, 2 Runs Italy

Of the ten starting players, only one born in Italy. 7 born in USA.

The leading pitcher has been:

Michael Lorenzen

Positions: Pitcher and Outfielder

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-1, 217lb (185cm, 98kg)

Team: Colorado Rockies (majors)

Born: January 4, 1992 (Age: 34-071d) in Anaheim, CA us

SUMMARY

2025

Career

WAR

0.4

12.2

W

7

54

L

11

55

ERA

4.64

4.08

G

27

395

GS

26

119

SV

0

15

IP

141.2

996.0

SO

127

826

WHIP

1.327

1.31

More career Innings Pitched (IP) than Hall of Fame reliever Billy Wagner (903).

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It's basically a team of Italian Americans. How do the two leading players qualify?

How does Vinnie Pasquantino qualify for World Baseball Classic?

AI Overview:

Vinnie Pasquantino qualifies for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic through his Italian heritage. Though born in Richmond, Virginia, the Kansas City Royals first baseman meets WBC eligibility rules that allow players to play for a country if they have at least one parent born there or are eligible for citizenship, notes The Athletic via Bleacher Report. 

• Italian Heritage: Pasquantino's eligibility is based on his family's Italian descent.
• WBC Rule 1.b: The tournament allows players to represent a country if they are eligible for citizenship or a passport, notes The Athletic via Bleacher Report.
• Previous Participation: He previously played for Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and is returning for 2026, notes MLB.com.

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How does Michael Lorenzen qualify for the World Baseball Classic?

AI Overview:

Michael Lorenzen qualifies for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) through his maternal heritage, allowing him to compete for the country despite being born in California. The WBC enables players to represent countries where they have ancestry, allowing Lorenzen to anchor Italy's 2026 pitching staff, including a win over Team USA. 

Key Details on Lorenzen's Eligibility:

• Heritage Requirement: Lorenzen is eligible due to his mother's bloodline, meeting the citizenship/heritage requirements set by the WBC.
• 2026 WBC Performance: He pitched as a key starter for Italy in the 2026 WBC, including a 4.2 inning, scoreless performance in a pool play victory.
• MLB Context: Although playing in the MLB for various teams (including the Reds, Angels, Phillies, Tigers, Rangers, and Royals/Rockies), this ancestral link allows him to compete for Italy. 

His participation is part of a trend in the WBC where American-born players with diverse backgrounds represent other nations. 

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Say what? The Lorenzen qualifier is even more lame that the one for Pasquantino.

On the other hand, almost all of the players are ethnic Italian. And they have an espresso maker in the dugout.

Leave the bat. Take the cannoli.