Venezuela has made history, eliminating Japan in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, but the story doesn’t finish there. The Venezuelan squad has advanced to the semifinals, where they will face another surprise team in this tournament: Italy.
Led by Venezuelan Francisco Cervelli and boasting exciting players like Aaron Nola, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jac Caglianone, the Italian team has had a truly unforgettable championship run. They advanced as the undefeated leaders of a group that included powerhouses like the United States and Mexico, and then eliminated Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals.
With this in mind, Venezuela knows it cannot underestimate the Italians, especially after Cervelli confirmed that Italy’s starting pitcher will be an experienced substantial leaguer who has even been selected to an All-Star Game: Michael Lorenzen.
Michael Lorenzen to face Venezuela
On Sunday, March 15, Francisco Cervelli officially confirmed that Michael Lorenzen will be Italy’s starting pitcher against Venezuela. The 34-year-old right-hander delivered a legendary performance in pool play against the United States, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out two batters.
The California native has had an 11-year Major League career, and has found success, even earning a spot in the 2023 All-Star Game after an excellent first half of the season with the Detroit Tigers. He’s a pitcher who cannot be taken lightly.
