HOUSTON, TEXAS — Team Italy’s highly successful showing at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) has been fueled by a red-hot offense so far.
Italy, after all, is not only a perfect 5-0 — including an impressive 8-6 victory over heavily favored Team USA in pool play — but it has scored a whopping 40 runs during its five games.
Not too shabby.
And who has played a pivotal role behind Italy’s success? None other than Staten Islander and ex-major leaguer Frank Menechino. The Susan Wagner HS product, who played for the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays during his MLB career, followed his playing days with stints as hitting coach for the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox.
Team Italy, meanwhile, advanced to the WBC semifinals via Saturday night’s 8-6 quarterfinal victory over Team Puerto Rico.
Under Menechino’s guidance, Team Italy is fourth among all WBC teams with a .287 batting average and an eye-popping .401 on-base percentage.
Italy’s hitting coach has helped several players sizzle through five games, including Dante Nori (.438) and Jon Berti (.417). Vinnie Pasquantino, meanwhile, belted three homers in Italy’s 9-1 beatdown of Team Mexico — the game that helped the United States clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.
Menechino’s assistant batting coach is former New York Yankees star catcher Jorge Posada. Team Italy is managed by ex-Staten Island Yankees and New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli.
Team Italy will look to earn a spot in Tuesday’s WBC championship game when it meets Team Venezuela at 8 p.m. on Monday in Miami.