This past Friday, Samuel Aldegheri made history as the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to appear in a Major League Baseball game. The 22-year-old left-hander from San Martino Buon Albergo, a small town in Verona, Italy, took the mound for the Los Angeles Angels against the Seattle Mariners, marking a significant milestone in his journey from a country where baseball is far from the dominant sport.
Aldegheri’s path to the majors is a remarkable story of passion, perseverance, and a bit of luck. Growing up in Italy, where soccer reigns supreme, Aldegheri found his love for baseball through videos of Clayton Kershaw, one of MLB’s most dominant pitchers. His connection to the sport was further nurtured by his older brother, Mattias, who served as his mentor, and the rare presence of a baseball field near their home. This unusual combination of factors allowed Aldegheri to pursue a dream that few in his country even imagined.
On Friday, Aldegheri’s dream became a reality. He took the mound at Angel Stadium and delivered his first pitch, a strike to J.P. Crawford, who flew out to center field. Although his debut ended in a 9-5 loss to the Mariners, with Aldegheri allowing seven runs—two of them earned—over five innings, the moment was far from a disappointment. Despite a rough first inning exacerbated by a two-out error, Aldegheri settled down and managed to strike out three batters, including Seattle’s star, Julio Rodríguez.
Aldegheri’s historic debut wasn’t just a personal achievement; it was a source of pride for his family, who flew in from Italy to witness the event. “The last 24 hours have been crazy for me,” Aldegheri said, reflecting on the emotional whirlwind. “My family jumped on the first flight last night. I didn’t get to see them before the game, but I did after, so it was emotional.”
Aldegheri’s ascent to the majors is even more impressive considering the challenges he has overcome. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019 for $210,000, he was later traded to the Angels as part of the deal that sent closer Carlos Estévez to Philadelphia. Despite missing most of the 2022 season with shoulder soreness, Aldegheri bounced back strong, posting a 3.59 ERA with 134 strikeouts across High-A and Double-A this year. His ability to rack up strikeouts while limiting home runs, combined with a pitch mix that includes a fastball in the low 90s, a slider, curveball, and changeup, has made him one of the Angels’ top pitching prospects.
Angels manager Ron Washington praised Aldegheri’s debut, noting the significance of his achievement for baseball’s global reach. “I’ve spent some time in Italy doing baseball clinics and they’re baseball-starved over there,” Washington said. “So I think after tonight, there are going to be some more viewers from Italy.”
Indeed, Aldegheri’s journey from Verona to the majors is likely to inspire many young athletes in Italy and beyond, showing that with talent and determination, even those from unconventional baseball backgrounds can reach the highest levels of the sport. As Aldegheri continues to develop, he not only carries the hopes of the Angels for a brighter future but also the dreams of aspiring players in Italy who now have a new role model to look up to.
