The international pipeline is growing in Major League Baseball ahead of the 2026 season.
In the eastern hemisphere, and the World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe sector, Italy is making a mark with nine current players playing with MLB organizations at the minor league and big league level.
The Nine Players Carrying Italy’s Momentum Into 2026
Patrick Silva and Filippo Sabatini (Philadelphia Phillies), Ettore Giulianelli (Cleveland Guardians), Nicolò Pinazzi (Los Angeles Angels), Matteo Marelli (New York Mets), Giacomo Taschin (Toronto Blue Jays), Williams Wong (Texas Rangers), San Marino native Alessandro Ercolani (Pittsburgh Pirates), and Samuel Aldegheri (Los Angeles Angels) are laying the forefront for the growth of the sport for the land of my heritage.
For reference and player pages, readers can find the official profiles here: Samuel Aldegheri (MLB.com), Matteo Marelli (MLB.com), Nicolò Pinazzi (MLB.com), Giacomo Taschin (MLB.com), Williams Wong (MiLB.com), Alessandro Ercolani (Baseball-Reference), and Ettore Giulianelli (MLB.com).
Patrick Silva’s Next Step With Philadelphia
Silva will be officially signed during the international signing period with Philadelphia on January 16th at 6:00 PM at the Baseball Vercelli clubhouse, located on Via Vincenzo Viviani, where he is from, according to the Italian Baseball Softball Federation.
FIBS reported that Silva was raised in the Baseball Vercelli youth system and has excelled at both the national and international levels, with his performances in Italy’s youth national team pathway drawing MLB scouting attention. The official announcement and full details are available here: FIBS.it.
Silva’s emergence also fits the broader “Italy-developed” story right now, because he is entering pro ball through a domestic development pathway that has increasingly placed Italian teenagers in front of professional evaluators.
Aldegheri: The Benchmark for the Modern Era
Aldegheri is the only current player on this list that has played in a Major League game.
His milestone has already been recognized at the league level, with MLB.com documenting Aldegheri’s debut as a historic moment for Italy’s modern pitching pipeline. That coverage can be found here: MLB.com.
All other current players are waiting in the wing to make it to the Show, once their time comes, but Aldegheri’s presence changes the conversation. He is proof that this pathway is not theoretical anymore, and it raises the ceiling for everyone coming behind him.
Giulianelli to Cleveland: A Development Story to Track
One of the newest names to follow is Giulianelli, who has signed a minor league contract with Cleveland, an organization known for maximizing pitching development.
The move generated quick attention this week, including national write-up coverage that referenced MLB Network insider reporting and highlighted Giulianelli’s velocity buzz. That story can be found here: Yahoo Sports (The Sporting News via Yahoo).
Italian baseball news: RHP Ettore Giulianelli of Rimini has signed a minor league contract with the Guardians, source says. @MLBNetwork @MLBItalia https://t.co/PTrhtvdQKL
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 7, 2026
For Italy’s broader ecosystem, this matters because it reinforces that MLB organizations are actively scanning for arms tied to Italy’s training environments and competitive circuits—especially when those arms show notable raw stuff and projectable growth.
Why This List Matters With the World Baseball Classic Approaching
This development wave lands at the right moment, because the 2026 World Baseball Classic is approaching in March, and Italy’s talent conversation continues to evolve. Even when WBC rosters include Italy-eligible MLB veterans, the long-term growth of the national program depends on homegrown and Italy-developed players building legitimate pro résumés inside MLB organizations.
For more context on the broader Team Italy roster conversation and what a potential 2026 build could look like, see Jeff Duda’s previous coverage here: WorldBaseball.com.
Two Italy-Based Bats on the WBC Radar: Renzo Martini and “Nino” Lasaracina
While the nine names above are currently tied to MLB organizations, Italy’s domestic and European competition remains a major stage for players pushing toward national-team selection.
Roberto Angotti recently highlighted two notable Team Italy-linked bats: former New York Yankees prospect and current Team Italy corner infielder Renzo Martini, and Giaconino “Nino” Lasaracina, who has produced substantial numbers across multiple seasons in Italy and elevated his profile with power production in European competition. Angotti’s feature is available here: MLBForLife.com.
As Italy continues pushing for deeper results on the international stage, that blend of MLB-affiliated development and Italy-based production is becoming more important—and more believable—by the year.
Italian-Born MLB Pioneers (Pre-Modern Era)
Rugger Ardizoia — New York Yankees (1947)
Reno Bertoia — Detroit Tigers (1953–58), Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins (1959–61), Kansas City Athletics (1961), Detroit Tigers (1961–62), Hanshin Tigers (NPB) (1964)
Hank Biasatti — Philadelphia Athletics (1949)
Julio Bonetti — St. Louis Browns (1937–38), Chicago Cubs (1940)
Marino Pieretti — Washington Senators (1945–48), Chicago White Sox (1948–49), Cleveland Indians (1950)
Lou Polli — St. Louis Browns (1932), New York Giants (1944)
Bridge-era note: Alex Liddi remains a key modern reference point as the first player born and developed in Italy to reach MLB in the modern era, linking the pioneers to the current wave.
