MIAMI – As Italy prepares for a crucial matchup against Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic on Monday night at loanDepotpark, manager Francisco Cervelli finds himself in a unique position. He’ll be leading his team against the country of his birth, a situation layered with personal and professional significance.

Cervelli, born and raised in Venezuela, has a deep connection to the nation. His mother, Damelis, is Venezuelan, while his father, Emanuele, was born in Italy. This dual heritage is at the heart of his current role.

“This is my job, and this is the shirt I wear right now, and I have to do it with pride,” Cervelli stated. “When they say play ball, you forget everything and just play ball.”

Italy’s unexpected success in the tournament has been a major storyline. The team, currently 5-0, has shocked many by reaching the semifinal round, defeating Puerto Rico 8-6 in the quarterfinals. This marks only the second time an European team has reached this stage, following the Netherlands in 2017.

Cervelli, who took the helm of the Italian national team in January 2025, has emphasized the long-term impact he hopes to have on baseball in Italy. “This isn’t a one- or two-week job. This work has been going on for a year,” he explained. “And it’s not just me. Many people are involved in this. I can’t do it alone. We always need help and more people to get involved.”

Three years ago at the same loanDepot park, Mexico manager Benjamín Gil spoke of a “before and after” in Mexican baseball after his team reached the semifinals for the first time in the country’s history. The impact in Italy could be even more dramatic, given the significantly smaller baseball tradition compared to Mexico.

When asked about the long-term effect of Italy’s performance in the Classic, Cervelli responded, “The biggest impact of this is that many people are going to want to join this group, and that’s what we want. That many people volunteer, that they can, in the future, make a living with baseball as coaches, as players, in offices. To take this to a level where it’s not just a hobby, but a way of life.”

The enthusiasm surrounding Italy’s run in the tournament has even reached the highest levels of government, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni discussing the team’s success in Congress. “A lot is happening,” Cervelli said. “Every day, something new happens. People in Italy are incredibly happy.”

Some critics have pointed to the number of players on the Italian roster who were not born in Italy. Only three members of the active roster were actually born in the country. Cervelli addressed this directly, stating, “Being Italian is by blood, not by soil. It’s not where you were born, it’s by blood. That’s been the rule of life in Italy. It doesn’t matter where you’re born. If you have a little bit of blood, you’re Italian, and these guys are.”