The LVBP's Bravos de Margarita will have a new pitcher joining the staff.

Italian right-hander Claudio Scotti has agreed to a contract with the Bravos for the 2026-27 winter season in Venezuela, according to Sports Venezuela on Instagram.

Scotti, 28, was born in Rome, Italy, and plays for 1949 Parma Baseball Club A.S.D. in the Italian Serie A.

During the 2026 season, Scotti posted a 2.55 ERA with 56 strikeouts and just 19 hits allowed in 35 2/3 innings. He made three starts in 10 appearances.

Scotti has represented Italy in each of the previous two editions of the World Baseball Classic, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings in two outings during the 2026 international tournament.

From 2016-17, he spent two seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after signing with the NL Central club as an international free agent. From 2018-21, Scotti returned to play in Italy before a brief two-year stint in the Florida Complex League (Rookie Ball) with the New York Mets from 2022-23.

Scotti's tenure with the Bravos will be his first taste of professional baseball in one of the four primary (LVBP, LBPRC, LIDOM, LAMP) Caribbean and Latin American winter leagues.

He has limited winter ball experience, making six appearances for the Asociación Profesional de Béisbol Nicaragüense's Tigres de Chinandega during the 2024-25 season.