On Friday the Italian Baseball League kicks off the 2016 season. Prior to the new season T&A San Marino’s general manager Mauro Mazzotti talks with Mister-Baseball.com to preview the new campaign.
Mister-Baseball.com: The Italian Baseball League is starting this weekend. What are your expectations in general and especially for San Marino?
Mauro Mazzotti: The expectations for San Marino are high as usual. We want to be competitive in Italy and Europe and even though we changed quite a bit in the roster we’d like to win again a trophy this year.
Mister-Baseball.com: Which new import players will make an impact in the league?
Mauro Mazzotti: Well, Justin Germano, who will play for us, pitched more than 300 innings in Major League Baseball and we expect a lot from him. Daniel Mayora for Rimini for sure is another player that should do very well here. We’ll see. IBL isn’t an easy league to adjust for imports.
Mister-Baseball.com: Which young players could celebrate a breakout year in Italy this summer?
Mauro Mazzotti: I think catcher Giulio Monello for Novara and right-handed pitchers Diego Fabiano for Padua and Ludovico Coveri for San Marino are a group of young guys that should have a good impact in the league.
Mister-Baseball.com: Which teams are favored and will reach the semifinals in the IBL? What team is going to win the championship?
Mauro Mazzotti: On paper Rimini, Bologna, San Marino and Padua are the ones that should make the postseason and compete for the championship even though this is April Baseball and we’ll finish in August. So anything can happen.
Photo: Mauro Mazzotti (right) with new player Yoimer Camacho