Italy named its new manager and it will be former Major League catcher Francisco Cervelli. Last year he served as a special assistant to catching for Team Europe’s coaching staff at the 2024 CARNEXT Samurai Japan Series.
Cervelli played 13 years in the Major Leagues with the Yankees, Pirates, Braves, and Marlins. Over that time he won a World Series title in 2009 with the Yankees and also played in two (2009 and 2017) World Baseball Classics for Italy.
Born in Valencia, Venezuela, to an Italian father and Venezuelan mother, he signed as an international free agent at age 16. He made his MLB debut at age 22.
Cervelli replaces another New York and Marlins catcher, Mike Piazza.
Italy currently ranks #14 in the World Rankings. They will take part in the 2026 World Baseball Classic starting off in Pool B. There they will face off against the United States (#5 world ranking), Mexico (#4 world ranking), Great Britain (#18 world ranking), and a yet to be determined qualifier.
Best of luck to Cervelli and the Italian National Team.
Stay tuned for more from Team Italy as we near the next edition of the WBC.