The Italian Baseball Federation announced Francisco Cervelli as the manager of its Baseball National Team. He will replace Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, who was manager from 2020 to 2024.
“It’s an honour,” Cervelli said. “I’m humbled and grateful. Playing for Italy was a dream come true. I will work tirelessly to make Italy an elite programme.”
“Francisco Cervelli is the right choice for us,” commented FIBS President Marco Mazzieri. “Not only does he have a lot of experience and knowledge. He can build strong relations with the players.”
Mazzieri thanked former manager Mike Piazza. “I’m grateful for what he did as a manager and ambassador. We would have liked to discuss a different role for him in the future, but he wanted to explore new opportunities.”
World No. 14 Italy will host Group C of the European Championship 2025 in Senago, near Milan, and will face No. 41 Switzerland, No. 37 Greece, and No. 43 Lithuania.
No. 27 Belgium will host No. 30 Croatia, No. 28 Austria and No. 40 Hungary in Group D in Antwerp.
The top two finishers of each group will advance to the second stage in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where they will compete with the top eight finishers of the 2023 edition: Group A No. 24 Spain, No. 17 Germany, No. 15 Czechia, No. 32 Sweden; Group B No. 7 Netherlands, No. 18 Great Britain, No. 19 Israel and No. 21 France.
Born in Venezuela to an Italian father in 1986, Cervelli played 730 (687 at catcher) Major League Baseball (MLB) games for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins.
He represented Italy internationally and played for Marco Mazzieri at the 2009 and 2017 World Baseball Classics.
He served under Mazzieri as a coach during the 2024 Global Baseball Games in Osaka.
Before travelling to Japan, Cervelli told the WBSC about his goal to be involved with the Italian Baseball National Team programme.
“As a former catcher, you always want to be the boss,” he said. “I want to support baseball in Italy. I look forward to working again with Marco and Gianni [strength and conditioning coach Natale], developing players and helping Italian baseball improve. I’m committed to helping kids in the Big Leagues and getting scholarships, helping them do what they love, and having a career. What else can you ask for? I’m not sure what’s coming in the future. I hope to be part of the Italian National Team coaching staff one day.”