HOUSTON — Perfetto.
Samuel Aldegheri’s performance on Saturday afternoon was historic for more than just the scoreboard.
Italy opened World Baseball Classic pool play with a dominant 8-0 shutout over Brazil, but the moment carried deeper significance: Aldegheri became the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to start for the Azzurri on baseball’s grandest international stage.
Just three years ago, Aldegheri was watching the 2023 World Baseball Classic from a restaurant in Italy. On Saturday at Daikin Park, he stood on the mound wearing the Italian uniform, delivering 4.2 shutout innings with eight strikeouts to help secure the win.
“To be here today, all the sacrifice that it took – it’s just amazing,” Aldegheri said. “To wear these colors means everything to me.”
During a postgame interview with MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Aldegheri became emotional as he discussed his family and his journey from Verona to the world stage.
Despite his talent as a left-handed pitcher, Aldegheri’s path to professional baseball was anything but conventional. Growing up in Italy, where baseball still fights for visibility, opportunities to be seen by major league scouts are rare.
His breakthrough came when Italian scout Claudio Scerrato discovered him and helped bring him into professional baseball. Aldegheri originally signed with the Philadelphia Phillies before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels in July 2024.
Just one month later, he made his Major League debut, becoming the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to reach the big leagues. Since then, Aldegheri has moved between Double-A, Triple-A, and the majors while continuing to chase a permanent spot in the Angels’ rotation.
But Saturday’s outing may resonate far beyond the box score.
“To be here today, to play with these guys, to play for these colors, this uniform, this country, the kids back home – it’s everything,” Aldegheri said. “Baseball is not really a big thing in Italy yet. It’s slowly growing. I hope when kids see me here, they believe they can reach this level.”
Aldegheri admitted he felt goosebumps during the Italian national anthem before the game. As he walked off the mound to a standing ovation from Italian supporters behind the dugout, his eyes welled with tears.
Manager Francisco Cervelli removed Aldegheri after 65 pitches. But the impact of those innings could extend well beyond Houston.
“It’s something you can’t really explain, but you can feel it,” Aldegheri said. “Feeling the support from back home is different.”
And for young players watching in Italy, it may be the moment that makes baseball feel possible.
Chris R. Vaccaro is senior editorial advisor for the World Baseball Network, VP of the Italian American Baseball Foundation and a U.S. press liaison for the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball.
Photo Credit: Corrado Benedetti – Duck Photo Press for FIBS
