After agreeing to terms on a contract recently, 18-year-old LHP Italian pitching prospect Giacomo Taschin and the Toronto Blue Jays made his signing official today in Dunedin, Florida.
Taschin joins four other players who came through the Italian baseball system in the minors: Samuel Aldegheri (Angels) and Alessandro Ercolani (Pirates) are in Double-A in 2025, and IF Williams Wong (Rangers) and Filippo Sabatini (Phillies) are in the Dominican Summer League this year. Taschin will start his journey in the Florida Complex League.
Taschin had his breakout at last year’s U18 European Championship. He won the MVP of the tournament, helping Italy secure the championship. He threw 14 innings on the mound with 22 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.00. He was also the winning pitcher in the championship game against Germany, pitching six innings and allowing one run while striking out five. Taschin had an OPS of 1.209 and a HR at the plate in the tournament as a two-way player.
As a 17-year-old in Serie A, Italy’s top domestic league, he dominated on the mound. He posted a 0.28 ERA for Itas Mutua Rovigo with 48 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings. He was 11th in the league in strikeouts per 9.
Taschin will now begin his professional journey in the Florida Complex League as he seeks to advance through the minors. To date, Aldeghieri is the only Italian-born and developed pitcher in MLB history, a distinction he achieved last year.
