News

Team Italy Roster Revealed for 2023 World Baseball Classic

Team Italy, managed by Mike Piazza, will compete in Group A of the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Taichung, Taiwan, alongside Chinese Taipei, Cuba, Panama and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The 30-player roster blends emerging prospects, redemption-seeking players and veterans, with Italy opening against Cuba on March 9.

Francesco Bonvini Earns Scholarship to College of Staten Island

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Francesco Bonvini will continue his baseball career at the College of Staten Island on an athletic scholarship. The Italian native from Parma played at Kingsborough Community College, where he was named CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and helped win a conference title.

Blake Butera Named Assistant Field Coordinator for Tampa Rays

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The Tampa Bay Rays named Italian American and Team Italy coach Blake Butera an assistant field coordinator for the 2023 season. Butera spent the previous season managing Class-A Charleston, adding minor league on-field coaching responsibilities to his baseball career.

Save the Date: Joe DiMaggio Awards Dinner on April 4, 2023

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The Italian American Baseball Foundation and Columbus Citizens Foundation will present the Joe DiMaggio Award to Baseball Hall of Famer and Team Italy Manager Mike Piazza and business leader Lou Tallarini. Proceeds from the April 4 event will support scholarships and youth development.

IABF Mourns Loss of Sal Bando

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Italian American Sal Bando, who died at 78, played 16 Major League Baseball seasons with notable careers in Oakland and Milwaukee. A four-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion, he later served eight years as the Brewers’ general manager.

Anthony Iapoce Named Manager of Toledo Mud Hens, Triple-A Affiliate of Tigers

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The Detroit Tigers and Toledo Mud Hens announced that Italian American Anthony Iapoce will manage the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate in Toledo during the 2023 season. Iapoce most recently served as a minor league hitting coordinator with the Boston Red Sox and previously was a hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs.

Wayne Randazzo is New Angels TV Play-By-Play Voice

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Bally Sports West and the Los Angeles Angels named Wayne Randazzo the club’s new play-by-play announcer. Randazzo brings nearly 20 years of local and national broadcasting experience, including four seasons calling New York Mets games, while continuing his Friday Night Baseball role with Apple TV+.

2022 IABF Gala Speeches

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The 2022 IABF Gala honored Mike Piazza, Michael Kay, Mike Pagliarulo, Jim Small, and Vito Friscia with awards recognizing Team Italy, media, achievement, international leadership, and future potential. Frank Catalanotto, Tom Verducci, and others introduced the honorees.

Italian Americans Participate in Arizona Fall League

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The Arizona Fall League concluded in November after featuring several Italian American players. Participants included Jake Gozzo and Vin Timpinelli with the Glendale Desert Dogs, Blair Calvo and Mike Antico with Salt River, Bryce Teodosio with Scottsdale, and Jonah Dipoto and Alex Isola with Surprise.

IABF Featured on Yankees Magazine via YES Network

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YES Network featured the 2022 Italian American Baseball Foundation Gala on its Yankees Magazine program with Nancy Newman. The segment highlighted Michael Kay’s IABF Media Award and included family photographs showing generations of his Italian heritage through his mother’s side.

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