The Italy WBC roster 2026 was one of the most intriguing squads in the tournament: a mix of MLB stars, rising prospects, and Italian-league veterans, managed by former MLB catcher Francisco Cervelli. Thanks to the WBC’s heritage eligibility rules, Italy can select American-born players with Italian roots—and the 2026 squad leaned into that harder than ever, with big-league names like Aaron Nola, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jac Caglianone headlining the team.
Here is the full Italy WBC roster 2026, broken down by position, plus the stars to watch and how Team Italy is built.
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Italy WBC Roster 2026—Pitchers
| Player | Throws | Club (at selection) |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Aldegheri | L | Los Angeles Angels |
| Dan Altavilla | R | Minnesota Twins |
| Dylan DeLucia | R | Cleveland Guardians |
| Alessandro Ercolani | R | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Matt Festa | R | Cleveland Guardians |
| Gordon Graceffo | R | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Alek Jacob | R | San Diego Padres |
| Joe La Sorsa | L | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Michael Lorenzen | R | Colorado Rockies |
| Ron Marinaccio | R | San Diego Padres |
| Kyle Nicolas | R | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Aaron Nola | R | Philadelphia Phillies |
| Adam Ottavino | R | Free agent |
| Gabriele Quattrini | R | Macerata Angels (Italy) |
| Greg Weissert | R | Boston Red Sox |
The rotation was led by Aaron Nola, the Phillies ace and the biggest pitching name on the roster, with Michael Lorenzen bringing veteran MLB experience behind him. The bullpen mixed MLB relievers (Weissert, Festa, and Marinaccio) with young arms like Aldegheri—one of only a few players on the roster actually born in Italy—and Ercolani, a 21-year-old Pirates prospect born in San Marino.
Note: a small number of late roster reports varied on the final bullpen spots (Dylan DeLucia and Joe Jacques were both reported at different points). The table above reflects the widely reported announced squad.
Italy WBC Roster 2026—Catchers
| Player | Bats/Throws | Club (at selection) |
|---|---|---|
| Alberto Mineo | L/R | Parma Baseball (Italy) |
| Kyle Teel | L/R | Chicago White Sox |
Kyle Teel was the headline name behind the plate—a young White Sox catcher and one of the top catching prospects in baseball. Alberto Mineo, a veteran of the Italian league, brought experience of European baseball and the WBC format.
Italy WBC Roster 2026—Infielders
| Player | Bats/Throws | Club (at selection) |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Antonacci | L/R | Chicago White Sox |
| Jon Berti | R/R | Free agent |
| Zach Dezenzo | R/R | Houston Astros |
| Andrew Fischer | L/R | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Giaconino Lasaracina | R/R | Parma Baseball (Italy) |
| Miles Mastrobuoni | L/R | Seattle Mariners |
| Vinnie Pasquantino | L/L | Kansas City Royals |
| Thomas Saggese | R/R | St. Louis Cardinals |
Vinnie Pasquantino was the biggest bat in the infield—the Royals’ first baseman and the anchor of Italy’s lineup, playing in his second WBC. Around him: versatile veterans like Jon Berti and Miles Mastrobuoni, plus young MLB talent in Zach Dezenzo and Thomas Saggese.
Italy WBC Roster 2026—Outfielders
| Player | Bats/Throws | Club (at selection) |
|---|---|---|
| Jac Caglianone | L/R | Kansas City Royals |
| Dominic Canzone | L/R | Seattle Mariners |
| Jakob Marsee | L/R | Miami Marlins |
| Nick Morabito | L/R | New York Mets |
| Dante Nori | L/R | Philadelphia Phillies |
Jac Caglianone was the breakout name—the Royals’ slugging rookie, drafted in 2024 out of the University of Florida, who surged to the majors in 2025. Dominic Canzone and Jakob Marsee added MLB experience, while Nick Morabito and Dante Nori represented the next wave of young Italian-heritage outfielders.
How Italy Builds Its WBC Roster: The Heritage Rule
The WBC’s eligibility rules are what make Team Italy possible. A player can represent Italy if he is eligible for Italian citizenship—which includes players with Italian parents or grandparents, even if they were born and raised in the United States. That is why so many American-born MLB players suit up for Italy: Pasquantino, Nola, Caglianone, and others all qualify through Italian heritage.
Italy blends three groups:
- MLB stars with Italian heritage—the headliners (Nola, Pasquantino, Caglianone).
- MLB and MiLB depth—in 2026, roughly 25 of the 30 roster spots went to players in MLB or affiliated minor leagues.
- Italian domestic league players—veterans from clubs like Parma Baseball and Macerata Angels, who keep the team connected to baseball in Italy itself.
Manager Francisco Cervelli, the former Yankees and Pirates catcher, has focused on building a sustainable program rather than a one-tournament team—developing a young core that can compete across multiple Classics. He was assisted by four-time World Series champion Jorge Posada as an assistant hitting coach.
Italy’s Pool and Schedule at WBC 2026
Italy played in Pool B in Houston, alongside a stacked USA team, Mexico, and the other pool members. Pool play is a round-robin: every team plays the others in its pool, and the top two advance to the quarterfinals. Italy’s group-stage schedule included the pool finale against Mexico.
For the latest Team Italy coverage, check Italy World Baseball Classic news on Google News—and you can customize Google News to follow the topic so Italy updates show up in your feed.
Italy’s WBC History in Brief
Italy is a regular at the World Baseball Classic but has never reached the semifinals. The team’s best finishes came when its MLB-heritage talent clicked at the right time—and the 2026 roster, with a legitimate ace in Nola and a middle of the order built around Pasquantino and Caglianone, was designed to change that. The program’s long-term bet is clear: keep recruiting young Italian-heritage talent from the MLB pipeline while growing the domestic game at home.
Final Thoughts
Italy’s 2026 WBC roster was the program’s most ambitious yet—a real MLB ace in Nola, a middle of the order built around Pasquantino and Caglianone, and a young core designed to compete for years. Whether you follow Team Italy for the heritage story or for the baseball, this is a team built to be watched. Check the baseball live score page for results from the tournament and beyond.
FAQs
Who is on Italy’s WBC roster for 2026?
The 30-man squad is listed in full above: 15 pitchers, 2 catchers, 8 infielders, and 5 outfielders, headlined by Aaron Nola, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jac Caglianone, and managed by Francisco Cervelli.
Who is Italy’s best player at WBC 2026?
Aaron Nola (Phillies ace) on the mound and Vinnie Pasquantino (Royals first baseman) at the plate were the two biggest names, with rookie slugger Jac Caglianone the breakout star to watch.
Why do so many American players play for Italy?
WBC eligibility rules let players represent a country if they qualify for its citizenship. Many American-born MLB players have Italian parents or grandparents, so they are eligible for Italy.
Who manages Team Italy?
Francisco Cervelli, the former MLB catcher, managed Italy at the 2026 WBC, with Jorge Posada serving as an assistant hitting coach.
Where can I see Italy’s WBC results?
Results and standings are on our Baseball Live score page.