© Bceagles.com
October, in addition to crowning the Los Angeles Dodgers as MLB champions, saw Team Italy continue its approach to the next World Baseball Classic and the more distant Los Angeles 2028 Olympics with the Olympic Camp reserved for a large group of young Italian talents engaged in college or professional experiences integrated by Italian “senators” and some natives. The first part of this internship, reserved in particular for pitchers and catchers, took place in Surprise, Arizona, in the facilities of the Kansas City Royals and then the entire group moved on to Tampa, Florida, which had just been hit by the hurricane Milton, guests of the local NCAA Division II champion university against which two matches were played which ended with a defeat and a victory for our representative
Vincent Cimini, a young and talented interior player who plays in the NCAA with Boston College, was also part of this last phase of the adventure. Last year, having obtained an Italian passport, he played briefly with the Turin Grizzlies and then joined the Azzurra expedition. Under 23 at the European Championships in Austria. Now the dream is to wear the Italy jersey in Los Angeles 2028 when baseball returns to the Olympic program.
Native of Scranton (Pennsylvania), Vincent with clear Italian origins, grandfather native of the province of Frosinone, distinguished himself in his career at Boston College which plays in the NCAA Division I within the super competitive Atlantic Coast Conference and in his upcoming senior year of eligibility aspires to drag his Golden Eagles to the final NCAA tournament.
Here is Vincent Cimini exclusively for Baseball.it fresh from the Olympic Camp in Tampa, Florida, with Team Italy.
Vincent, let’s start from current events and therefore from your experience in Tampa with Club Italia La 28. How did you get along with the manager Mike Piazza, the staff and your teammates and which moment remained most impressed in your mind?
I immediately got on well with all the staff and the entourage of the national team who have always been incredibly helpful with me. The whole environment has a clear vision of what Italian baseball needs to grow and they are relying on a great support system in the United States. I consider myself lucky to have been included in this journey not only of personal growth at a gaming level, but also with the aim of winning at an international level. The experience in Tampa was fantastic and I consider it one of the most important in my playing career. The most exciting moment? Off the playing field when my teammates and I went to lend a hand in the streets of Tampa to the many people affected by the recent Hurricane Milton. I am one of the few Americans on the team and it meant a lot to me to see all my teammates volunteer their time and efforts to help my countrymen.
Last year you obtained dual citizenship but I ask you something more about your origins and how you came into contact with Italian baseball
My grandfather Vinicio was originally from Patrica, in the province of Frosinone and at the age of 19 he emigrated to the United States, first to Detroit and then to Scranton where he met and married my grandmother. In 2021 my father was contacted by Gianmarco Faraone who asked me if I had Italian citizenship and if I wanted to play for the national baseball team. At first I thought it was a joke and I knew little about Italian baseball other than the manager, the great Mike Piazza, an idol for all Italian-Americans. From there a complicated bureaucratic process began and only the commitment of my father, a lawyer, in finding the right documentation allowed both him and me to obtain Italian citizenship. Great credit therefore to my father who is very proud of this personal achievement.
How proud are you of the possibility of playing for the Italian national baseball team and after the debut in MLB of pitcher Samuel Aldegheri do you think there could be good prospects for other Italian players to make the big leap into professionalism?
Representing Italy first at the Under 23 European Championships in Austria and then at Camp LA28 in Tampa was a dream come true, I can’t describe in words what it meant to represent my family and its origins, my University on an international stage. I remember that during the playing of the national anthem in Austria before the debut against France I had tears in my eyes from the emotion of wearing the Italy jersey. I am very happy and proud for Samuel but in general for the entire Italian baseball movement and I am sure that this is only the beginning and that many of my teammates in Tampa have the possibility of reaching that level with commitment and work. daily.
From this perspective, do you believe in the usefulness of the experience, the College Pipeline, which has allowed and still allows some young Italian baseball talents to continue their growth in the NCAA at different levels and in Junior Colleges? I am thinking in particular of Lorenzo Morresi and Samuele Bruno, among others, already your teammates with the Under 23 national team
Certainly yes, and I never miss an opportunity to remind my teammates of the value of playing baseball in the United States, especially at the college level. For those who have the goal of one day reaching the MLB and obtaining a degree at the same time, there is no doubt that that is the best situation. I am confident that FIBS with its contacts will be able to send more and more players here in America to colleges. Lollo and Bruno have already showcased their skills at both the collegiate and international levels and I hope that their performances can help open doors for other young players growing up in Italy.
What do you think of the level of baseball played in Italy and what advice do you have to make it grow even more?
I was favorably impressed by the level of baseball in Italy last year during my stay in Turin with the Grizzlies and the national team. I found excellent coaching staff with experience and preparation, players who love baseball, train hard with great passion and sacrifices, always remaining open to advice. I also noticed that pitchers in Italy almost never use the fastball but other types of pitches unlike in America. In my opinion the system is excellent and the only way to improve further is to play more. Clearly, football is the national sport in Italy and baseball, if it wants to at least get closer, must spread even more among younger people. I fell in love with the game at an early age and have invested all of myself in this passion over the last 20 years. We must try to encourage the birth of the spark of passion for the game in the very young and then it will not be the lack of teams or the few matches that extinguish it.
Let’s change the subject and come to your experience at Boston College
The ones I am spending at Boston College where I am developing as a man, student and player are certainly the best years of my life. I have been given the opportunity to continue to play at a high level with teammates who will remain my friends forever, but more importantly I have learned the importance of sacrifice and unconditional love for teammates through the example of role models such as Pete Frates, Sonny Nictakis and Welles Crowther (all former Boston College players). In recent years Boston College has broadened its horizons by recruiting more international players and I hope that in the future we can see more Italians in the Birdball lineup.
Speaking of Boston College, you will soon be playing the traditional Sonny Nictakis World Series, five days of games in honor of the former player to whom the event is dedicated. Can you tell us something more about the event which also marks the end of your autumn training sessions?
To make you understand Sonny Nictakis is in the Olympus of baseball at Boston College, he is at the top of Mount Rushmore for everyone affiliated with this program. When he was captain of the baseball team he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease but his tenacity and attachment to the team were such that he went so far as to carry out his therapies practically on the diamond so as not to miss a single training session with his teammates. In my junior year here at Boston College I had the great honor of wearing his number 8 jersey and this was a continuous reminder of the sacrifices and determination he showed every day until the end. In his honor, we play a series of intrasquad games every year to remember his commitment and willingness to put his all on the field.
Let’s close by talking about your beloved New York Yankees, what didn’t work in the World Series?
Well, I’ve been a Yankees fan forever and having lived in Boston for 6 years now I must say that I’m used to supporting them in the midst of a hostile climate. Even at 3-0 in the series I didn’t believe the mountain to climb to reach the final victory was insurmountable, after all a streak of 4 consecutive victories would have been enough. However, it was a great season and I proudly wear the Yankees symbol here in Boston.
