Tom Sox Alum Pasquantino to Play for Italy in WBC
By: Ben Rekosh
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – 2017 Valley Baseball League Champion Vinnie Pasquantino is set to represent Team Italy in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, which begins this week.
This is Pasquantino’s second time donning the Italian threads; he also participated in the 2023 WBC. The Italians made the quarterfinals that year before losing to eventual-champion Team Japan. Pasquantino played in all five of Italy’s games during the event, notching four hits and scoring one run.
He holds numerous records in the Tom Sox history books, being part of the squad that was ranked number one in the nation by Perfect Game and winning the first VBL Championship in Charlottesville’s young history. A native of Richmond and an attendee of Old Dominion University, Pasquantino boasted an impressive 45 total hits, 10 home runs and 30 RBIs during his summer with the ‘Sox. He was selected to the second-team All-VBL that season.
Pasquantino is one of six former Valley League players to be on a WBC roster in 2026. He is one of two former Tom Sox to compete in the event; fellow 2017 VBL Champion Michael Wielanksy suited up for Team Israel in 2023.
‘The Pasquatch’ became the first-ever former Tom Sox player to make it to Major League Baseball when he was called up on June 27, 2022 – he was drafted in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He hit 32 home runs for the Kansas City Royals in 2025 and is a fan favorite among baseball supporters around the country.
Team Italy starts play with two exhibition games against the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels in Mesa, Arizona on March 3rd and 4th respectively. The team is part of Pool B with Brazil, Great Britain, Mexico, and the United States; Pool B is based at Daikin Park in Houston. The Italians are scheduled to open pool play on Saturday, March 7th at 1:00pm against Brazil.
The Charlottesville Tom Sox wish the best to Vinnie and the rest of Team Italy in the upcoming World Baseball Classic! Good luck to one of the best players in franchise history. Represent the organization and the Valley well, Vinnie!
