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Houston, Texas, March 6, 2026
Italy Announces Coaching Staff for 2026 World Baseball Classic
Table of Contents
Manager Francisco Cervelli has assembled a team of experienced coaches, including a five-time World Series champion, to lead Italy in the upcoming tournament.
- Italy’s coaching staff for the 2026 World Baseball Classic includes veterans from the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees organizations.
- The team will begin play in Houston, Texas, on March 7th against brazil.
- Jorge Posada,a former New York Yankees star,will serve as a hitting and assistant coach.
- Alessandro Maestri, the first Italian to play professional baseball in Japan and South Korea, will be a pitching coach.
- The entire technical staff will gather in Phoenix on march 1st before heading to Houston.
Italy is gearing up for the 2026 world Baseball Classic, and manager Francisco Cervelli has revealed the coaching staff that will support the team’s bid for success. The announcement, made ahead of Thursday’s official squad releases, brings together a wealth of experience from both the american Major Leagues and the international baseball scene. The Azzurri will be looking to make a strong showing in the tournament, which begins March 6th in Houston, Texas.
A Blend of MLB Experience
Ron Wotus will serve as bench coach, bringing over 35 years with the San Francisco Giants organization, including a remarkable 24 seasons on the MLB staff between 1998 and 2021. Wotus won three World Series titles with the Giants in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Allard Baird will coach first base,having previously managed in various franchises from 1988 to 2023,including a stint as general manager of the Kansas City Royals (2000-2006) and winning World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox in 2007,2013,and 2018.
Lipso Nava,the third base coach,was recently recognized as the Venezuelan Winter League manager of the year for the second time in his career. Dave Righetti and Alessandro Maestri will share pitching coach duties. Righetti, who previously coached with the San francisco Giants from 2000 to 2017, also boasts three World Series rings. Maestri, a pioneer for Italian baseball, played professionally in Japan and South Korea and has represented Italy in numerous international competitions.
Hitting power and Bullpen Expertise
The hitting coach roles will be filled by Frank Menechino and Jorge Posada. posada, a legendary figure for the New York Yankees, won five World Series championships with the team (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009). Sal Fasano will manage the bullpen, drawing on his extensive experience in the American Minor Leagues and previous involvement with the Italian national team in 2017.
What is the schedule for Italy in the World Baseball Classic? Italy will play all of its group stage games at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. The team will face Brazil on March 7th, Great Britain on March 8th, the United States on March 10th, and Mexico on March 11th. The top two teams from the group will advance to the quarter-finals, also held in Houston, with the semi-finals and finals taking place in Miami from March 15th to 17th.
