Alex Liddi, the first Italian-born MLB player, has signed with Parma Baseball Club of the Italian Baseball League for the remainder of the season. He follows Oscar Paredes as a high-profile, international, in-season signing for Parma.
The 35-year-old Liddi, born in Sanremo, Italy, returns to his home country to play for Parma after being released by Leones de Yucatan of the Mexican League earlier this month. Liddi is known for his time in the MLB, playing third base, first base, and left field for over two years. He became the first Italian-born player to play in the MLB and the CPBL for the Chinatrust Brothers. This is his second tenure as a member of Parma, as in 2023, he played the squad’s last two games of the playoffs.
Liddi will boost the Parma lineup. Participation in three World Baseball Classics for the Italian national team gives him high-stakes experience. Liddi also boasts six career MLB home runs and a .820 OPS in his first season in Seattle.
Parma is in the Serie A1 Playoffs, entering a three-game set against Nettuno in the quarterfinals starting on July 26. The General Manager of Parma, Massimo Fochi, stated in the official press release, “We kept in touch since the beginning of the season; he was always interested in our results, and just finishing the experience in the Mexican league, he gave us the immediate availability to reach Parma. He was the one who speeds up the times and insisted on a quick arrival to Parma to make himself available to our technical staff.”
Marcello Saccardi, Parma Clima manager, was very excited when commenting on Liddi’s arrival.
“I was lucky enough to know him last year and was impressed by his humility, seriousness, and availability,” said Saccardi. “Our team has reached a good level of playing in recent days, I am sure that Liddi will make himself available marrying our ideas. He knows baseball, will do it without being asked. He couldn’t wait to come back, last year he left expressing the desire to return the trust he had been given. We are all really happy to have him back.”
Liddi and Paredes will be big additions to a Parma club hoping to win their second league championship in three seasons.
(Photo Courtesy Parma Baseball Club)
