© Lauro Bassani – Photobass
Released by the South Bend Cubs, with 18 games under his belt in A + (and three in AA with the Tennessee Smokies), Matteo Bocchi returns to Bologna, after his experiences in 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Born in 1996, from Parma, he is remembered under the Two Towers for his performance in the final for third place in the 2016 Champions Cup against Rotterdam, and for his contribution to the Italian Series final of the same year. And maybe even 7 no-hit innings against Rouen in the 2017 European Champions Cup.
In blue he made his debut in the Super 6 of 2018, two appearances in the 2019 European Championship, then, for him, the Olympic qualification for Europe / Africa. And again the European 2021
Canceled the 2020 season in the Minors, due to Covid 19, Bocchi gave his hand in the victory of the Fortitudo championship: 7-1, 2.58 with 44 K in 43 2/3 IP. Eighth pitcher of the Italian championship. Victory in tandem with Bassani in race 2 on San Marino.
In 2021, under contract with the Cubs, Bocchi collected a PGL of 4.34 (in 21 games, two won and one lost – seven from starters) between A + and AA; 3.77 with South Bend. in just under 95 takes.
Mino Prati, journalist since 1979, has written about baseball for ‘Il Giornale Nuovo’, ‘Gazzetta di Bologna’, ‘Stadio’, ‘Tuttobaseball’ and ‘Baseball International’ and ‘Agenzia ANSA’ and ‘Il Resto del Carlino’. as well as being the curator of the BaseballNow website. He was also responsible director, at the Bologna level, of various newspapers including ‘Fuoricampo’, ‘Baseball Time’ and ‘Baseball Oggi’, as well as press officer of Fortitudo Bologna. He worked for the FIBS Press Office He published the Baseball Almanac, for Nuova Sagip, in 1980. As well as a journalist, he also boasts experience on the other side of the fence: ex-technician, company manager, at the level of minor categories practically always (since 1972) in Minerbio (in the province of Bologna where he was one of the founders of the company), and as Technical Director in the Casalecchio Green Socks (Serie A2-1991) first and in Fortitudo Bologna (Serie A1-1992 / 93) then. Several times elected in the local Federbaseball bodies at the provincial and regional level. He was the Editorial Manager of Baseball.It in 2002.