Aldegheri will get the start today for Italy in the quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico. The Italian native will need his best stuff to shut down the PR hitters.
From Italy to the major leagues: The inspiring story of Sam Aldegheri’s journey from Verona to the MLB
A lot has been said about Team Italia and where their players were born. Granted, they’ve brought a lot of attention to themselves after defeating Team USA and Mexico to finish undefeated in Pool B. The team has come together with mostly U.S. players with Italian heritage who are enjoying every minute of playing for the country where their ancestors came from. There are also plates from Venezuela, Canada and, of course, Italy.
Aldegheri is one of three Italian-born pitchers on Italy’s roster, but he’s the only one to have got a start, and a win, in the WBC and to have played in the MLB, where he plays for the Los Angeles Angels.
From Verona to the MLB
The native of Verona started his journey to the MLB playing for Parma Clima in the Italian Baseball League back in 2019 and 2020. The Philadelphia Phillies signed Aldegheri as a free agent in 2019 and he slowly worked his way up through the Phillies organization, where he played for their rookie level team before moving up to the Clearwater Threshers of the Low-A league.
After an injury he was sent back to the rookie league before being promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws in 2023. He returned to Jersey Shore at the beginning of the 2024 season.
Aldegheri’s big opportunity came when he got traded to the Los Angeles Angels, where he got his MLB debut on Aug. 30, 2024. The Italian born right-hander had a 1-2 record and 4.85 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 13 innings in his first year. In that first start he had his “Welcome to the majors” moment when he allowed seven runs (two earned) in a 9-5 loss in which he pitched five innings.
“I’m happy for myself and for my family, but I’m happy for my country and for the kids in Italy who might feel like they are nobody, but I just showed them anyone can make it,” Aldegheri said after his first start. “They have to believe in their dreams and chase them.”
One of the most emotional interviews I can remember after a @WBCBaseball game. Verona native Samuel Aldegheri, in English and Italian, spoke about the meaning of the victory today. @MLBNetwork @Angels 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/wjsERLg7qi
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 7, 2026
Aldegheri started for Team Italia in their 8 - 0 win over Brazil. He pitched 4.2 innings allowing only one hit, two walks and got eight strikeouts to the lead the way for Italy.
After the win against Brazil Italy’s head coach had some nice words for the right-hander. “Everybody’s proud of him -- the first pitcher ever pitching in the Major Leagues [born and raised] in Italy,” said Cervelli, who’s known Aldegheri for the better part of two years now. “We had this idea a long time ago about [saving] this game for him.”
Today all eyes will be on the kid from Verona, who will take the hill against Puerto Rico. With a good outing he could earn a spot on the Angels for opening day, but either way, he will be playing for his country on a team that has impressed the baseball world so far.
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