Italy announced a 20-player roster with half of the team – seven players born in 2009 and three born in 2008 – under the age of 18 for the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2025 presented by RAXUS.
“We agreed with the Youth Teams General Manager [Gianguido Poma] and [National Federation] President Marco Mazzieri that we should give an opportunity to younger players. The 16-year-olds [infielder Francesco Carlini, pitcher and third baseman Ivan Larice, outfielder and pitcher Federico Magalotti, pitcher Mattia Muscio, corner infielder Patrick Silva, infielder Pablo Suarez and pitcher Christian Tontini] would be eligible for the U-18 World Cup in 2027. Together with the 17-year-olds [Pitcher Gabriele Cirinà, infielder Alessandro Garavaglia, and catcher Corrado Resca], they will be the core of the 2026 European Championship team,” manager Guglielmo Trinci commented.
“We will play as hard as we can,” he added. “We are aware of the level of this tournament, but want to be competitive. The players know this is not an exhibition tour, I want them to give all they have on the field. Still, our main focus is players’ development.”
The Italian roster will consist of eight pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and three outfielders.
PITCHERS (8) Santiago Arismendi (Brescia), Filippo Brunelli (Longbridge Bologna), Freionil Carrasco (Poviglio), Gabriele Cirinà (Ravenna), Alessandro Gamberini (Longbridge Bologna), Ivan Larice (Ponte di Piave), Mattia Muscio (YMCA Grosseto), Christian Tontini (Dolphins Anzio).
CATCHERS (2) Enrico Bicchiarelli (Pesaro), Corrado Resca (Settimo Torinese).
INFIELDERS (7) Francesco Carlini (Falcons Torre Pedrera), Daniele Di Persia (Nettuno 1945), Alessandro Garavaglia (Milano 1946), Aldo Pavarani (Sala Baganza), Mattia Ruggeri (New Rimini), Patrick Silva (Settimo Torinese), Pablo Suarez (Longbridge Bologna).
OUTFIELDERS (3) Federico De Cristan (San Bonifacio Verona), Federico Magalotti (Longbridge Bologna), Riccardo Mazzanti (Nettuno 1945).
Trinci’s staff will include bench coach Claudio Corradi, pitching coach Gianluca Poli, assistant coaches Juan Pablo Angrisano and Alberto Furlani. Strength and conditioning coach Daniene Santolupo was an All-World Team outfielder at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2004.
World No. 14 Italy have participated in 18 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cups. A sixth-place finish (2004) is the best result to date. Italy didn’t qualify for the WBSC U-18 baseball World Cup 2023.
The Azzurri are included in Group A and will play their debut game against the defending World Champions and world No. 1 Japan after the XXXII U-18 Baseball World Cup Opening Ceremony.
“I will point out to the players what a privilege this is. I know most of them aren’t familiar with the atmosphere they will find at Okinawa Cellular Field. I expect a full house. I recall how I felt playing at Dodger Stadium during the 1984 Olympics. Those memories will be with me for the rest of my life,” said Trinci.
“Japan will have a formidable team, but my players need to understand they will play against 18-year-olds with two arms and two legs, just like them. Everybody needs to win games on the field, not on paper. So, let’s play ball. What I don’t want to see is batters getting to the box shaking or the ball glued to the pitchers’ fingers. We will do our best, and we will take a look at the scoreboard after seven innings.”
The head of the Italian Consular Office in Naha, Marco Massetani, will attend the game.
The other teams competing in Group A are No. 12 Cuba, No. 4 Korea, No. 7 Puerto Rico and No. 26 South Africa.
Group B includes No. 10 Australia, No. 9 Panama, No. 19 China, No. 18 Germany, No. 2 Chinese Taipei and No. 3 USA.