Coaching

Dan Bonanno Named 2023 IABF Ambassador Honoree

Dan Bonanno has played an integral role in the growth of baseball in Europe and Italy for more than 20 years. He will be honored with an IABF Ambassador Award during IABF’s annual gala on November 30. The Racine, Wisconsin native played ball at Grand Canyon University in Arizona before making his journey to play professionally in Italy.

FIBS and IABF Partner on Between The Lines’ Junior College Softball Showcase

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The IABF and Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball expanded their strategic partnership with a College Pipeline Softball Showcase in Bollate, Italy. Organized by Between the Lines, the event connected academically qualified high school players with exposure to U.S. college coaches. Mike Candrea supervised the showcase.

Terry Francona Named 2023 IABF Tommy Lasorda Award Honoree

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The Italian American Baseball Foundation named World Series-winning manager Terry Francona its 2023 Tommy Lasorda honoree. Francona, who led Boston to two titles including the 2004 championship that ended an 86-year drought, has nearly 2,000 managerial wins and three American League Manager of the Year awards.

Salvatore Varriale Named 2023 IABF Ambassador Honoree

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Salvatore Varriale, an Italian American player and coach, will receive the 2023 IABF Ambassador Award. A Parma legend and former national-team coach, he won numerous domestic and European titles, represented Italy at four Olympics, and was inducted into the Italian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Italian Americans in 2023 College World Series

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Italian Americans appeared across several rosters and coaching staffs during the 2023 College World Series. LSU and Florida each featured multiple players, while Oral Roberts, Wake Forest, TCU, Tennessee and Stanford also had Italian American athletes or coaches represented; Virginia had none listed.

Yankees Coach Danny Fiorito Joins IABF Student Leadership Chat

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New York Yankees coach Danny Fiorito spoke to the Italian American Baseball Foundation’s Student Leadership Council about current trends in baseball and building a career in the sport. Drawing on experience with Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe, he shared practical insight from his rise through the organization’s coaching ranks.

J.P. Ricciardi Speaks with IABF Student Leadership Advisory Council

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J.P. Ricciardi addressed the Italian American Baseball Foundation Student Leadership Advisory Council about baseball’s changing roles, shared challenges among clubs, and his four decades in the game. The San Francisco Giants advisor urged students to pursue their goals with persistence and encouraged more Italian Americans to enter baseball.

Team Italy Roster Revealed for 2023 World Baseball Classic

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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.

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.

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.

IABF NEWS