WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - ITALY VS USA

March 10, 2026

Francisco Cervelli

Daikin Park

Team Italy

Postgame Press Conference

Italy - 8, USA - 6

Q. We know that the team rested yesterday. All of the ones that rested did not go over 30 pitches. We want to make sure that everyone will be available for tomorrow's game?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Yes, all of them will. We're managing everyone. We're managing that the amount of pitches were low. We made changes. Some won't be able to, some will. But that's the tough thing about this tournament.

Q. What does it mean for you to come in here and have the success you've had and knock off the United States tonight like you did?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: It means everything, because I've been doing this job for one year already. Not only here in the WBC and Italy as well, I had to convince people that we can play baseball, that we can do special things in Italy.

So what I like about this result is they're going to start believing more. More people is going to be around us. They're going to support us, because we need help. We cannot do it by ourselves. So it means everything for me tonight.

Q. Exactly nine years ago, in Jalisco, to the day, you defeated Mexico. Here today, you've knocked off another giant. What does this say about Italian baseball over the last 10 years? And is this your favorite day of the year?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Probably this is one of the best days of my life. I'm proud of my guys. They play -- they're young, but they play like they've been in the big leagues for 10 years. Their focus was there.

And, you know, everybody in Italy should see this. We're doing it for them, for the kids. It can happen. It's possible.

Q. Your top five hitters went 0-for-22 tonight and you still beat the United States. What does it say about the lineup depth that you guys have now that you're capable of doing that?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Well, you know, when you start in Arizona, you don't know -- you know probably one or two guys. I don't know if I'm wrong or right about the lineup, but it's been working.

They're going to produce. I'm not worried about Vinnie. I'm not worried about Marsee. They're going to produce because they are great players.

But the other guys are stepping up. I mentioned it early, we've got a guy like Antonacci and Caglianone and Nori. They are very interesting players. They're going to be in the big leagues very soon.

Jac is already there, but those two. I've got another one on the bench, Morabito. They can't wait to be on the field. I'm not worried about the big part of the lineup.

Q. Lorenzen really set the tone for you guys, and then you had to piece it together late in the bullpen as they're kind of clawing back. Can you discuss just navigating the challenges of that lineup in the late innings? And then also, what's going through your mind when Aaron Judge is coming up to the plate with two outs in the ninth?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: I knew in the eighth, the last out would be Judge. I knew that because it's always the best player in on the planet.

It's hard to navigate that lineup. And as soon as they start making changes, everybody's a lefty. I don't have another lefty in the pen. So I've got to bring the guy that I think is going to be good in that moment. Every hitter in that lineup is a superstar.

But big credit to my guys. They got there, they got on the mound. Weissert closed the game. Like, he's a big leaguer, and he played with a great team. But I knew it's going to end up here because that's how it is all the time.

Q. With Teel out, do you have another catcher you can add to the roster for tomorrow?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Well, we're going to have the bullpen catcher, Andrés Annunziata. He's one of my catchers in Italy. That's the only one we've got. He's been working hard with us. I think he's the guy, because we don't have anybody else.

Q. For those people who never saw him play at Florida, what would your scouting report be on Jac, and what you learned from him and his potential moving forward?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Well, you know, first of all, it's hard. He was a superstar in college, you know? And then he came to minor league as a superstar. Big leagues is a different monster.

So it's a learning process. But I think he will be a superstar. Just see his body, he's an athlete. He can play football. He can play basketball.

We've got to go slow, be patient, and it's going to happen. This kid is going to learn how to handle -- because in this game, failure is a big part for a big leaguer. If you know how to handle it, you're going to succeed.

Q. You were talking to one of my colleagues earlier, and you were sharing marvelous things about Mexico. You'll be facing them tomorrow. What about Benji Gil everyone you'll be facing tomorrow?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: My respect for the whole entire team of Mexico. They're a spectacular team. They're a very strong team, the way that they play. They respect their flag. It's going to be a very, very tough game.

And we're going day by day, right? We need to find ways to win. It's that simple.

Q. In the same wavelength in regards to tomorrow's game, how are you going to manage the emotions since you won today, one of your happiest days of your life? Many will be sharing that in your roster. So how will you be able to manage those emotions? And knowing that the calculator might give you the result you want, or also what comes to mind when you think about the variables when it comes to innings and whatnot, runs and whatnot?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: Today's game already happened. Those emotions are over. I celebrated when I was supposed to celebrate. And now I'm going to go to sleep and then think about tomorrow.

I'm not sure what's going to happen. We can use the calculator. I may not need to. So I hope we don't need to.

But we know that they're a tough team, but we've got to play baseball. Everything ends on that field. I don't have a crystal ball to let you know what's going to happen but tonight we rest. And tomorrow we tackle tomorrow what tomorrow brings.

Q. I wanted to ask you about D'Orazio since Teel is injured. What about D'Orazio, what can you say about him?

FRANCISCO CERVELLI: I trust him. He played in our second game. I am not concerned with the way he's going to perform. He's a great catcher, great player. He's hitting up with the bat. It's another important game for him and now it's his turn. There's no other way out.