Two players who dominated at the U-18 European Championship and Italy’s Serie A this season are set to sign contracts heading to professional baseball. Pitcher Filippo Sabatini and pitcher-infielder Patrick Silva have signed contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sabatini is just 17-years-old. In 2023, Sabatini pitched in Italy Serie A with Nettuno 2 B.C.. Last year, at just 16, he made nine starts in 15 appearances, going 1-1, posting a 5.12 ERA, and striking out 58 batters in 51 innings pitched. During the Euro Series, he was named the best pitcher, posting a 0.64 ERA, striking out 20 batters in 11 innings of work.
Patrick Silva is a Cuban-Italian pitcher-infielder who was a star for Italy at the U-15 Baseball World Cup. He is just 15 years old, and his father, Conrado Silva, is a coach for Vercelli and Settimo. Silva made his Serie A debut this year with Settimo Baseball Club, where he hit .243 in 20 games, blasting one home run and tallying two doubles and one triple. Silva was also named to the WBSC All-World Team after his strong performance at the U-15 World Cup, batting .481 with seven RBIs in eight games.
Italy has certainly been on the map regarding growing international talent. We’ve recently seen the Angels call up Verona’s very own Samuel Aldegheri, as he became the first pitcher to be born in Italy to pitch in a major league game. Not too far behind Aldegheri is Pirates prospect Alessandro Ercolani, who’s having a strong 2024 season with High-A Greensboro.
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WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: The Philadelphia Phillies logo is pictured on a hat during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 25, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
