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By Chris R. Vaccaro
HOUSTON — Greg Weissert may be one of the most unassuming players on Team Italy’s roster at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but the Bay Shore native carries a deep and meaningful connection to the Azzurri uniform.
The Boston Red Sox reliever qualifies to represent Italy through his paternal grandmother, Roseanne Zambelli, whose parents emigrated from Calabria.
“Zambelli is a little more Italian than Weissert,” he joked.
The path to the World Baseball Classic required more than just family stories. Weissert’s parents spent hours combing through decades of family documents in their basement to establish the lineage needed for international eligibility. In the end, more than 50 PDFs of official paperwork were submitted to confirm his Italian heritage and finalize his place on the roster.
His opportunity to join Team Italy also came through a familiar connection. Former New York Yankees teammate Ron Marinaccio helped open lines of communication with the Italian baseball federation, ultimately helping bring Weissert into a bullpen that could quietly become one of the tournament’s strengths.
Italy opens World Baseball Classic play Saturday against Brazil at 1 p.m. ET in Houston.
While Long Island is home to one of the most densely populated Italian American communities in the United States, Weissert said he did not grow up in a traditionally Italian American household — making the experience of joining the national team even more meaningful.
Team Italy first assembled in Arizona for exhibition games against the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels before traveling to Houston, where the team has continued preparations while bonding off the field.
“This has grown my love for the culture now more than ever just being here,” Weissert said. “Talking to the guys who are from Italy and being around all the people. Having more Italian Americans around helps.”
Weissert credits the leadership of team captain Vinnie Pasquantino and manager Francisco Cervelli for helping the roster quickly come together.
“I don’t know if it’s just the Italians, but it happened so fast,” Weissert said. “Everyone is super comfortable with each other. People are being themselves right away. Usually there’s a feeling-out process, but we’ve been getting to know each other, and it’s been really fun.”
Though Weissert has not lived full-time on Long Island since the COVID-19 pandemic, he still returns home for the holidays and maintains strong ties to the community. When asked about his favorite hometown Italian restaurant, he quickly pointed to Café Gio in West Babylon.
His parents are expected to join him in Houston for Italy’s final two pool-play games against the United States and Mexico.
Before reaching the professional level, Weissert built his reputation as a standout multi-sport athlete at Bay Shore High School, where he was a three-year varsity player in both baseball and volleyball and captained both teams. A two-time All-County selection, Second Team All-Long Island and two-time team MVP, Weissert posted a 1.58 ERA as a senior.
His success earned him a scholarship to Fordham University — the only collegiate offer he received. At Fordham, he continued to develop into a reliable power arm, striking out 82 batters during his senior season in 2016. His performance in the Northwoods League helped boost his visibility with professional scouts, ultimately leading to the New York Yankees selecting him in the 18th round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Weissert pitched for the Yankees in 2022 and 2023 before being dealt to Boston in the trade for Alex Verdugo. He has a career 3.28 ERA in 163 appearances, including his most dominant season yet in 2025, when he posted a 2.82 ERA in 72 games.
Weissert is the fifth Long Island native to represent Italy in the World Baseball Classic since the tournament debuted in 2006, joining Frank Catalanotto (Smithtown), Stephen Woods (Half Hollow Hills East), Nick Fanti (Hauppauge) and Vito Friscia (Valley Stream).
For Weissert, the opportunity to represent Italy ultimately comes back to family.
“I’ve thought about my grandma a lot,” he said. “She was super excited when I told her. I have ‘Zambelli’ on the inside of my belt, and I’ll give that to her when this is over. My grandma is the easiest way to find that pride.”
Bellissimo.
Long Island’s WBC connections
Weissert is not the only Long Island native playing in this year’s tournament. He is joined by Syosset native and Cold Spring Harbor alum Harrison Cohen, a Yankees prospect pitching for Team Israel.
Frank Catalanotto remains the most experienced Long Island player to wear the Italian uniform internationally. The Smithtown native and Hofstra coach represented Italy in both the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic under manager Marco Mazzieri, who now serves as president of the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation. Last year, Mazzieri visited Catalanotto’s team at Hofstra University to speak with the players.
Among the region’s most memorable WBC moments came in 2017, when Marcus Stroman earned tournament MVP honors while leading the United States to the championship. Stroman posted a 2.35 ERA across three starts and threw six scoreless innings in the title game against Puerto Rico.
Long Island has also hosted World Baseball Classic activity in the past. In 2017, Brazil held workouts at St. Joseph’s College ahead of a qualifying tournament at MCU Park in Brooklyn, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
The Long Island Ducks have also maintained a strong international presence, with 10 former players appearing on World Baseball Classic rosters representing seven different countries. Notable participants include Ruben Tejada (Panama) and George Lombard (United States).
Top: Bay Shore’s Greg Weissert pitches for Team Italy at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. Credit: Corrado Benedetti for FIBS
Chris R. Vaccaro is a media executive, professor and author from Long Island. He is vice president of the Italian American Baseball Foundation and U.S. press liaison for the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball.
