Major League Baseball released its complete Spring Training schedule last week and the two lone European World Baseball Classic teams Netherlands and Italy each play three games against Major League clubs. In addition the Dutch National Team is taking on a college squad to start training camp in Florida.
The Netherlands will kick off their exhibition schedule on February 24th with a game against the University of South Florida, which is playing in the Big East Conference. It is probably a well-known foe for new Dutch head coach Rod Delmonico after his experiences as coach with the University of Tennessee and the Florida State University. At the beginning of March they are taking on three MLB teams in three days with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins.
Italy also got a third match against a MLB squad. They now will round up their portion of the test game schedule against the former team of their hitting coach Mike Piazza. The Squadra Azzurri is facing the New York Mets on March 5th before traveling to Toronto for the preliminary round of the Classic. On the two days before they will play against the Washington Nationals and the Florida Marlins.
Exhibition Schedule European Teams:
Netherlands:
Friday, February 24th
6pm ET Netherlands – University of South Florida
Tuesday, March 3rd
1.05pm ET Netherlands – Pittsburgh Pirates
Wednesday, March 4th
6.05pm ET Netherlands – Cincinnati Reds
Thursday, March 5th
2.05pm ET Netherlands – Minnesota Twins
Italy:
Tuesday, March 3rd
1.05pm ET Italy – Washington Nationals
Wednesday, March 4th
1.05pm ET Italy – Florida Marlins
Thursday, March 5th
1.10pm ET Italy – New York Mets