Samuel Aldegheri became the first pitcher born and developed in Italy to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) when he took the mound for the Los Angeles Angels against the Seattle Mariners at 6:39 pm on Friday, August 30, in front of a crowd of 34,325 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
The left-hander's debut was plagued by a two-out defensive error that cost two runs and unsettled the rookie, who allowed three more, non of them earned.
Aldegheri worked three scoreless innings, before allowing a two-run home run to Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Julio Rodriguez in the top of the fourth. He left after five and suffered the loss.
"I’m happy for myself and for my family, but I’m happy for my country and for the kids in Italy who might feel like they are nobody, but I just showed them anyone can make it,” Aldegheri told the MLB official website. “They have to believe in their dreams and chase them.”
Aldegheri, who was born in Verona in 2001, represented Italy at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017.
Philadelphia Phillies scout and former international pitcher Claudio Scerrato signed him out of the Italian Baseball League, where he played for Parma. Aldegheri landed in the minor leagues in 2021, delayed by the 2020 Covid-19 limitations. In 2023, he played at the Class A and A Advanced levels. In 2024, the left-hander impressed in 13 starts at Class A+ and was promoted to Double-A. After two games, the Phillies traded him to the Los Angeles Angels.
He has appeared in 55 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) games so far. The call-up came after his sixth start at the Double-A level, the fourth with the LA Angels affiliate Rocket City Trash Pandas
Aldegheri's fastball is in the low 90s and can reach 95 mph (or 153 kph). His scouting report states it is "a high-spin heater that has a solid carry in the zone." The left-hander's pitch mix includes a sinker, a slider in the 84-90 mph (135-145 kph) range, and an overhand curveball.
Aldegheri is the seventh player born in Italy to reach the Major Leagues. Four of them are pitchers: Americo Lou Polli (born in Baveno, 1901-2000), who played 24 games for the St. Louis Browns (1932) and New York Giants (1944); Marino Pieretti (born in Lucca, 1920-1981), who pitched 194 games (1945-1950) for the Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians); Giacomo Julio Bonetti (born in Genoa, 1911-1952), who appeared in 46 games (1937-1940) for the St. Louis Browns and the Chicago Cubs; Rinaldo Rugger Ardizoia (born in Oleggio, 1919-2015) played one game for the New York Yankees in 1947.
First baseman Arcadio Hank Biasatti (born in Codroipo, 1922-1996) played 21 games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1949. He made history by also playing in the first-ever NBA game (November 1, 1946) for the Toronto Huskies against the New York Knickerbockers.
Middle infielder Pierino Reno Bertoia (born in S. Vito-Udine, 1935-2011) played 612 games for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, and Philadelphia Athletics (1953-1962).
Third baseman Alex Liddi (born in San Remo in 1988) is the only other MLB player born in Italy who also developed as a player in the country. He played 173 games for the Seattle Mariners from 2011 to 2013. Liddi played for Team Europe in the Global Baseball Games in March 2024.
