Baseball Memo 544: From Kyoto to MLB, from Children to Adults

WBC Review 13

≪Italy's Tournament Results≫
◎2006 (1 win, 2 losses, eliminated in the first round)
◆First Round (1 win, 2 losses)
W 10-0 vs. Australia
L 0-6 vs. Venezuela
L 3-8 vs. Dominican Republic

◎2009 (1 win, 2 losses, eliminated in the first round)
◆First Round (1 win, 2 losses)
L 0-7 vs. Venezuela
W 6-2 vs. Canada
L 1-10 vs. Venezuela

◎2013 (2 wins, 3 losses, eliminated in the second round)
◆First Round (2 wins, 1 loss)
W 6-5 vs. Mexico
W 14-4 vs. Canada
L 2-6 vs. USA
◆Second Round (0 wins, 2 losses)
L 4-5 vs. Dominican Republic
L 3-4 vs. Puerto Rico

◎2017 (1 win, 2 losses, eliminated in the first round)
◆First Round (1 win, 2 losses)
W 10-9 vs. Mexico
L 10-11 vs. Venezuela
L 3-9 vs. Puerto Rico

◎2023 (2 wins, 3 losses, eliminated in the quarterfinals)
◆First Round (2 wins, 2 losses)
W 6-3 vs. Cuba
L 7-11 vs. Taiwan
L 0-2 vs. Panama
W 7-1 vs. Netherlands
◆Quarterfinals
L 3-9 vs. Japan

Their best performance was reaching the quarterfinals in the previous 5th tournament in 2023. In the three tournaments where they were eliminated in the first round, they still managed at least one win, and there has never been a tournament where they were eliminated with zero wins.

They have struggled against the three Central and North American powerhouses, with a total record of 0-4 against Venezuela, 0-2 against the Dominican Republic, and 0-2 against Puerto Rico, but they have a favorable record against Mexico at 2-0.

In the 6th tournament in 2026, they will be in Pool B, held in Houston, USA, and will face the USA, Mexico, Great Britain, and Brazil.