For the first time a European team will be able to compete in the Asia Series, a tournament for the best club teams from Asia and Australia. Fortitudo Bologna is the European representative after winning the European Champions Cup this summer. They announced their first reinforcements for the tournament. Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte, who played for Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, and Alexander Burkard are joining the team for the Asia Series 2013. Bologna is going to face the winners of the Australian Baseball League, Chinese Professional Baseball League, Korea Baseball Organisation and Nippon Professional Baseball in Taichung, Taiwan from November 15 to 20, 2013. The Yomiuri Giants won the Asia Series in 2012.