Sal Frelick’s MLB debut came in July of 2023, but just months before, he was already making a name for himself on baseball’s biggest stage during the World Baseball Classic. Frelick represented Italy during the tournament, but Italian baseball fans should get to know the new and improved version of Frelick before the 2026 edition of the World Baseball Classic.
In 2023, Frelick went 7-for-23 with three extra-base hits and four RBIs. However, since then, Frelick has played in 212 big-league games and could be a key player for Italy next season.
In 2024, Frelick won a Gold Glove in right field and delivered a signature home run in the postseason. This season, he is off to a phenomenal start. He is 14-for-37 to start the year. He has a .912 OPS so far, but his jump in production at the plate is no fluke.
Frelick’s work ethic and drive to be great are to credit for his offensive leap. He put on 25 pounds of muscle this offseason in hopes of putting himself in a better position to make it through the season, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.
Frelick also has tweaked his approach at the plate. Frelick has been great at making contact throughout his career, but now he is trying to do more damage when he is an advantageous count.
“That’s something I’m trying to figure out. Talking with Murph and my teammates, it’s like my role is to go up there and when I get two strikes on me, be a pesky tough out,” Frelick told Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this spring. “You have to combine that with finding a way to take my shots when I can, and hitting the ball hard on a line in advantage counts without sacrificing from the peskiness.”
Frelick’s new approach is paying off. Last season, it took him 23 games to reach 14 hits. He has reached the mark in just 10 games this year.
Italy was already in a good spot in 2023. They were the runner-ups in Pool A and lost to Samurai Japan in the quarterfinals. However, in 2026, they will look to make a deeper run, with Frelick as one of the team’s best players. Italy will be in Pool B with the United States, Mexico, Great Britain and Brazil. The pool play games will be played in Houston.
He has always been an elite defender who is willing to put his body on the line to get an out. Last spring the Brewers even tried him out at third base, showing he is willing to do whatever his team needs him to. When you combine his elite defense with his newfound offensive ability, Italy could have a legitimate star leading them next year.
