As the Italian national baseball team prepares for the WBSC Premier12 qualifiers in Barcelona, pitcher Marco Artitzu outlined the squad’s rigorous preparation, recent international momentum, and the decisive cultural shift instilled by coach Francisco Cervelli. Italy opens its campaign in the city that first hosted Olympic baseball in 1992, facing a demanding three-game group stage under the shadow of the Sagrada Familia.
Dominican Republic Training Camp Sharpens the Azzurri
Preparation for the Barcelona qualifiers included a vital training block against elite competition in the Dominican Republic. Artitzu reported that facing squads stacked with former Major League Baseball players and active professionals significantly raised the team’s readiness.
“The preparation was very positive,” Artitzu said. “We had a great opportunity, which was playing against teams preparing for the professional league in the Dominican Republic, so pitchers and batters of the highest level. This certainly gave us a hand in preparing ourselves at our best in view of these qualifications.”
That high-level buildup feeds directly into a fierce qualifying group. Following strong performances in recent international windows—including a silver medal at the European Championship and a three-game sweep of the Netherlands to win the Haarlem Baseball Week—Artitzu acknowledged that opponents now view Italy as the team to beat.
“It will be a very competitive group,” Artitzu said. “Certainly, after the last results we have had, we will be target number one. It makes sense that they will play a little more vindictive. We know that every single game will have to be played at 100 percent.”
Francisco Cervelli Transforms Team Culture and Belief
A central catalyst behind Italy’s renewed competitive edge is the arrival of former MLB catcher Francisco Cervelli, whose major-league pedigree and assertive philosophy have reshaped the clubhouse dynamic.
“The impact is definitely very big and positive. He manages to put confidence in everyone,” Artitzu explained. “I think he managed to get his type of game, his style of attitude on the field, and a personality inside everyone in the team, which is something we used to struggle to find.”
Artitzu noted that the squad has fully embraced Cervelli’s mandate to attack the strike zone and pressure opposing pitchers. That tactical clarity has fostered a tighter, more familial bond across players who spend their domestic seasons scattered among different clubs.
“We follow his mentality: attack the pitch, the hit. We are finding our personality if we haven’t found it already,” Artitzu said. “There is also a realization at play after the results of the last few years. That too is bearing fruit.”
Club Seasons and International Growth Across Continents
Between domestic seasons, Artitzu expanded his resume abroad with the Windsor Royals in the Greater Brisbane League within Baseball Queensland, playing alongside veterans such as former World Baseball Classic Australian starter Connor MacDonald and infielder Rixon Wingrove. While the Australian state league system features some competitive disparity compared to the top-tier Australian Baseball League, Artitzu embraced the developmental environment.
“I went to make a new life and baseball experience, I didn’t think about anything else at all. I felt like one of them,” Artitzu said.
Artitzu Maintains Backup Plans for His Future
“You never know. You have to have a plan B. In fact, you even need a plan C,” Artitzu said regarding his academic and professional future.
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