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Vinnie Pasquantino was too joyful to let his critics bring him down.
Italy’s miraculous World Baseball Classic run came to an end Monday. After upsetting the United States early and surging to the semifinal, Vinnie Pasquantino and Italy fell 4-2 to Venezuela. [ Enter Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem now for your shot at $50K ] While Team Italy ultimately came up short, the squad will go down as one of the more memorable teams to take part in the 2026 tournament.
During its run, Italy captured the hearts of many, thanks to their espresso celebration and overall joy for the game. No player better represented that joy than Pasquantino, who many teammates credited as the ringleader of the team. Pasquantino, notably, was born in Virginia, not Italy.
But he was allowed to play for Team Italy due to his family history. Pasquantino — who was not the only player in that situation — has been vocal about why he chose to represent Italy , and has stated many times that he’s hoping the team’s success inspires more kids in Italy to take up baseball . Still, Pasquantino’s decision to suit up for Italy didn’t sit well with at least one talking head.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith wasn’t a fan of the American-born Pasquantino suiting up for Italy. Smith’s criticisms made their way to Pasquantino, who brushed them aside with enthusiasm following Team Italy’s loss Monday.