One day after announcing he will represent Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Vinnie Pasquantino collected two hits in the Kansas City Royals’ 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium.
Buongiorno! Proud to say I will be representing Italy again in the 2026 World Baseball Classic! Excited for another opportunity to represent my heritage on this stage. Going to be a special group of players suiting up next year! Forza!!!!! 🇮🇹 🇮🇹☕️☕️ pic.twitter.com/Lx8l24wgCu
— Vinnie Pasquantino (@VPasquantino) May 7, 2025
Italy will compete in Pool B with the United States, Mexico, Great Britain, and Brazil from March 6–11 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
Pasquantino lined a single to right in the bottom of the first inning and added an RBI single to center in the eighth, scoring Jonathan India. The (23-16) Royals open up a three-game series against the (20-19) Boston Red Sox at home on Friday, May 9 at 7:40 p.m. EDT.
Pasquantino hit .200/.273/.200 across five games in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, recording four hits, two walks, seven strikeouts, and one run in 20 at-bats. Italy advanced to the quarterfinals after going 2-2 in Pool A at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taiwan, finishing with the same record as the Netherlands, Cuba, Panama, and host Chinese Taipei. They moved on via the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Team Quality Balance tiebreaker before falling 9-3 to Japan at the Tokyo Dome.
This season, the 27-year-old left-handed slugger from Richmond, Virginia has appeared in 37 games, batting .210/.265/.385 through 155 plate appearances. He has tallied 30 hits, five doubles, one triple, six home runs, 22 RBI, 10 walks, and 29 strikeouts heading into Thursday’s game.
Last year, Pasquantino posted a .262 average and .760 OPS across 131 games, collecting 130 hits, 30 doubles, two triples, 19 homers, 97 RBI, 40 walks, and 71 strikeouts over 554 plate appearances.
Since making his MLB debut on June 28, 2022, at home against the Texas Rangers, Pasquantino has played in 301 games for the Royals. Over four seasons, he owns a career slash line of .260/.324/.440 with a .764 OPS, along with 293 hits, 62 doubles, three triples, 44 home runs, 171 RBI, 110 walks, 165 strikeouts, and a 2.6 WAR across 1,267 plate appearances.
Italy WBC Background
Former Italy national team player Marco Mazzieri is the president of the Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball.
The Italian national team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic official roster will be evaluated in the 2025 Serie A1 season for second string positions or in the bullpen.
World Series champion Francisco Cervelli will be the manager for Italy at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The majority of the Italy roster for the 2026 WBC will consist of players on active rosters with Major League Baseball organizations and in the minor leagues.
Mazzieri and Cervelli will evaluate through the course of the 2025 Serie A1 season on who they can see potential being on the roster come March. All stats for the 2025 Serie A1 season are located on FIBS.
The regulations of the 2026 World Baseball Classic with player eligibility are listed here.
Mazzieri will have to scout on building a great roster for the Italian national team over the next few months as he builds a roster for the 2026 WBC. Italy is eyeing on attending the 2026 Caribbean Series in Caracas, Venezuela, alongside the Japan Breeze, South Korea, Cuba, and the winter league champions from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Venezuela, who will compete before the start of MLB spring training.
The 2026 Caribbean Series will be held from January 30 until February 7 with the main venues being Estadio Simon Bolivar, Estadio Forum de La Guaria, and Estadio Universitario.
The U-23 Italy national team will also be scouted closely during the calendar of 2025 for other Italian-born players that will play in the 2025 Serie A1 regular season.
Italy’s WBC roster will also include a majority of players signed with MLB organizations, including those in the minor leagues.
FIBS has yet to announce whether it will send an all-star team to the Caribbean Series or the winner of the 2025 Serie A1 season.
Possible additions and returners for Italy’s offense that can be a big help for this upcoming March are Sal Frelick, Nicky Lopez, Miles Mastrobuoni, David Fletcher, Dominic Fletcher, Brett Sullivan, Jac Caglianone, Logan O’Hoppe, Joey Loperfido, Andrew Benintendi, Cavan Biggio, Michael Toglia, Alberto Mineo, Anthony Rizzo, Michael Conforto, and Trey Mancini.
Joey Gallo, who is now converting to be a pitcher, can be a wild card option for Italy if he performs well during the course of the 2025 season.
Pitching from both the starting rotation and bullpen for Italy’s 2026 WBC roster can possibly include players such as Samuel Aldegheri, Filippo Sabatini, Alessandro Ercolani, Anthony DeSclafani, Adam Ottavino, Matt Festa, Michele Vassalotti, Andre Pallante, Claudio Scotti, Glenn Albanese Jr., Mitchell Stumpo, Nathan Eovaldi, Spencer Arrighetti, Vinny Nittoli, Nick Pivetta, Aaron Civale, Zac Gallen, Jordan Romano, Joe Musgrove, Cade Cavalli, Lucas Giolitio, and Aaron Nola.
Before the WBC, Italy will participate in the 2025 European Baseball Championship from September 20–27. Senago, Italy; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Borgerhout, Belgium, will host the tournament, which gives Israel’s federation officials another opportunity to evaluate talent for their official 2026 WBC roster.
Italy, Israel, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic will return from the WBSC Europe sector for their second consecutive WBC appearance.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
Nicaragua will play against Venezuela, Israel, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic in Miami at loanDepot Park from March 6-11.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and Chinese Taipei will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner at loanDepot Park on March 14.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups and venue details are posted at MLB.com’s official WBC site, although game start times have not yet been announced.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and Colombia will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and Chinese Taipei will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up at loanDepot Park on March 14.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
The schedule for the 2026 @WBCBaseball is here! 👀 pic.twitter.com/B5MvUIrZK5
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 9, 2025
WBSC Rankings Outline
Japan is ranked at No. 1 in the World Baseball Rankings and will play in their sixth WBC. Chinese Taipei hails at No. 2. and will play in their sixth event. Venezuela at No. 3 and will appear for the sixth time at the WBC. Mexico is at No. 4 and will play in their sixth WBC. The United States is at No. 5 and will appear for the sixth time in the WBC. South Korea is labeled at No. 6 and will play in their sixth WBC.
The Netherlands at No. 7 will play in the WBC for the sixth time. Panama at No. 8 will play at the event for the fourth time. Puerto Rico crawling in at No. 9 will appear for the sixth time. Cuba is at No. 10 and will appear in the sixth WBC. The Dominican Republic at No. 11 will play in their sixth event. Australia pipelines at No. 12 and will play for the sixth time at the WBC.
Colombia at No. 13 and will appear in their third WBC. Italy is at No. 14 and will play in their sixth event The Czech Republic at No. 15 will appear in their second WBC. Nicaragua is ranked at No. 16 and will appear in the WBC for the second-time.
Great Britain at No. 18 will play for the second time at the WBC. Israel is ranked at No. 19 and will play in their third WBC. Canada is at No. 22 and will play in their sixth event. Brazil is ranked at No. 23 and will play in their second WBC.
In the 2023 WBC, Nicaragua, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic played in their first event. Israel and Colombia have played in three consecutive WBC events dating back to 2017. Brazil is appearing in the WBC for the first time since 2013. Panama has played in the WBC previously in 2006, 2009 and 2023, prior to 2026.
China will not be participating for the first time in the WBC since they did not qualify in the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., while going 0-3. They have been in the WBC since 2006, in the event’s first year.
The teams that are playing in the 2026 WBC and are part of the WBSC Americas sector are the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. In the WBSC Europe sector, Italy, Israel, Great Britain, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are participating in the 2026 event.
Japan, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea are in the WBSC Asia sector and Australia is in the WBSC Oceania sector.
All the other listed remaining countries have played in the WBC since its first year in 2006.
The WBC is sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports governing body alongside Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the WBCI, that partner in organizing the event during spring training.
The 2026 WBC pool matchups for all games are slated on the official World Baseball Classic site with the confirmed dates, and no game start times have yet been announced.
If teams end up with the same record in pool play the Total Quality Balance run differential rule will be in effect for runs for and runs against alongside the head-to-head record.
2026 WBC Pool Matchups With Confirmed Dates
Pool A – Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Canada & Cuba
Venue – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – San Juan, Puerto Rico
March 6
Game 1 – Cuba vs. Panama
Game 2 – Puerto Rico vs. Colombia
March 7
Game 3 – Colombia vs. Canada
Game 4 – Panama vs. Puerto Rico
March 8
Game 5 – Colombia vs. Cuba
Game 6 – Panama vs. Canada
March 9
Game 7 – Colombia vs. Panama
Game 8 – Cuba vs. Puerto Rico
March 10
Game 9 – Canada vs. Puerto Rico
March 11
Game 10 – Canada vs. Cuba
Pool B – United States, Mexico, Brazil, Great Britain & Italy
Venue – Daikin Park – Houston, Texas
March 6
Game 1 – Mexico vs. Great Britain
Game 2 – United States vs. Brazil
March 7
Game 3 – Brazil vs. Italy
Game 4 – Great Britain vs. United States
March 8
Game 5 – Great Britain vs. Italy
Game 6 – Brazil vs. Mexico
March 9
Game 7 – Brazil vs. Great Britain
Game 8 – Mexico vs. United States
March 10
Game 9 – Italy vs. United States
March 11
Game 10 – Italy vs. Mexico
Pool C – Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia, South Korea & Czech Republic
Venue – Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, Japan
March 5
Game 1 – Chinese Taipei vs. Australia
Game 2 – Czechia vs. South Korea
March 6
Game 3 – Australia vs. Czechia
Game 4 – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei
March 7
Game 5 – Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia
Game 6 – South Korea vs. Japan
March 8
Game 7 – Chinese Taipei vs. South Korea
Game 8 – Australia vs. Japan
March 9
Game 9 – South Korea vs. Australia
March 10
Game 10 – Czechia vs. Japan
Pool D – Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel & Nicaragua
Venue – loanDepot Park – Miami, Fla.
March 6
Game 1 – Netherlands vs. Venezuela
Game 2 – Nicaragua vs. Dominican Republic
March 7
Game 3 – Nicaragua vs. Netherlands
Game 4 – Israel vs. Venezuela
March 8
Game 5 – Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic
Game 6 – Nicaragua vs. Israel
March 9
Game 7 – Dominican Republic vs. Israel
Game 8 – Venezuela vs. Nicaragua
March 10
Game 9 – Israel vs. Netherlands
March 11
Game 10 – Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
