Los Angeles Angels lefty Samuel Aldegheri and Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Alessandro Ercolani, two Italian-born pitchers, will begin the 2025 Minor League Baseball season at the Double-A level.
The 2025 Double-A season opens Friday, April 4.
All minor league games this season can be streamed at Bally Sports.
Aldegheri began his professional career with Parma Clima in Italy’s Serie A1 league and signed with the Phillies for $210,000 in July 2019. As detailed in World Baseball Network’s previous coverage on March 7, his development included time in Clearwater, Jersey Shore, Reading, and Rocket City before his MLB debut on August 20, 2024. That article also included his WBC roster commitment, Cactus League performance, and advanced metrics from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
This offseason, Aldegheri signed an $800,000 deal for 2025 and enters the pre-arbitration phase through 2027.
FanGraphs listed his 2024 Angels metrics at 6.92 K/9, 6.92 BB/9, 1.38 HR/9, and a .302 BABIP. His ground ball rate was 22.2%.
According to Baseball Savant, his fastball topped at 92.2 mph with a .313 opponent average and 22.2% putaway rate. His changeup averaged 82.1 mph with 34.2 inches of drop, and his slider generated a 38.5% whiff rate. His curveball registered at 75.2 mph with 58.2 inches of vertical drop.
Rocket City opens its season on the road against the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, at 7:35 p.m. EDT at Toyota Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ercolani, 20, was born in Borgo Maggiore, San Marino, and signed with the Pirates on March 24, 2021. He pitched one season in Serie A1 for San Marino, logging a 1.35 ERA in 6.2 innings during 2020.
He’s spent the last four seasons in Pittsburgh’s system, beginning in the Florida Complex League, then moving up to Low-A Bradenton in 2023 and High-A Greensboro in 2024.
Last year with Greensboro, Ercolani went 6-2 in 24 appearances, including nine starts. He posted a 3.29 ERA over 76.2 innings with 93 strikeouts and just 25 walks. His WHIP was 1.083.
Over four seasons in the minors, Ercolani owns a 13-10 record with a 3.55 ERA in 190.1 innings. He’s struck out 218 batters and allowed 17 home runs in 61 appearances, including 32 starts.
He was assigned to Double-A Altoona on April 1 following Pirates minor league camp.
FanGraphs lists his 2024 numbers at 10.92 K/9, 2.93 BB/9, and a .202 opponent batting average. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was 21.7%.
Altoona will host the Bowie Baysox, the Baltimore Orioles’ Double-A affiliate, on April 4 at 6 p.m. EDT at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, Pa. WBN’s previous coverage identifies the Italian-Born players who played in MLB before the unification of Italy.
