Italian National Team manager Marco Mazzieri did an interview with Mino Prati of the Italian Baseball blog Baseball Now last weekend. He revealed some details about Italy’s plans for the Premier 12 in November. The Squadra Azzurri is going to travel to Taiwan on October 24 and will be playing a couple of exhibition games ahead of the tournament including matchups against Venezuela and Mexico on November 6 and 7.
Italy was placed into Group A together with host Chinese Taipei, Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Regarding the roster, Tiago Da Silva (on roster of Venezuelan Winter League club Cardenlas de Lara), Giuseppe Mazzanti, Riccardo De Santis (both work related reasons) and Alex Liddi (to play in Mexican Winter League) will probably miss the Premier 12. Prospects Federico Celli and Alberto Mineo will be on the team. Italy is expected to announce its roster on October 9 at a press conference in Rome.