One day after announcing that John McLaren is going to join the coaching staff as bench coach, the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation (FIBS) released a 24-man roster for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup in Taiwan. The Italian National Team will leave for Taiwan on Friday, October 15 and will finish up preparations on site before opening the tournament on October 23 against the Netherlands.
Manager Marco Mazzieri selected four current Minor League pitchers to make the trip, Alessandro Maestri (Chicago Cubs), Andrea Pizziconi (Arizona Diamondbacks), Luca Panerati (Cincinnati Reds) and Claudio Bavera (Kansas City Royals), a left-handed reliever from Venezuela. Alessandro Vaglio and Alex Sambucci are the young guns among the position players. Overall 15 of the 24 players on the roster also were in Stuttgart, Heidenheim and Neuenburg in July, winning the European Championship.
Complete Roster:
Pitchers: Chris Cooper (Montepaschi Grosseto), Cody Cillo (UGF Bologna), Tiago Da Silva (T&A San Marino), Sandy Patrone (Telemarket Rimini), Alessandro Maestri (Chicago Cubs), Luca Panerati (Cincinnati Reds), Andrea Pizziconi (Arizona Diamondbacks), Claudio Bavera (Kansas City Royals), Yovany D’Amico (Montepaschi Grosseto), Marco Grifantini, Justin Cicatello (both Cariparma Parma)
Catcher: Juan Angrisano (UGF Bologna), Riccardo Bertagnon (Cariparma Parma)
Infielders: Juan Carlos Infante, Joseph Mazzuca (both UGF Bologna), Anthony Granato, Giovanni Pantaleoni (both T&A San Marino), Jairo Ramos Gizzi (UGF Bologna), Alessandro Vaglio (Montepaschi Grosseto), Alex Sambucci (Cariparma Parma)
Outfielders: Mario Chiarini, Laidel Chapelli (both Telemarket Rimini), Stefano De Simoni, Leonardo Zileri (Cariparma Parma)
Coaching Staff: Marco Mazzieri (Manager), John McLaren (Bench Coach), Bill Holmberg (Pitching Coach), Claudio Vecchi (First Base Coach), Gian Mario Costa (Third Base Coach)
Photo: © Ezio Ratti/FIBS