Italy's Alberto Mineo on winning in Nicaragua: "The level of the league impressed me, I loved playing there"
Alberto Mineo, 30, has been away from his home town, Ronchi dei Legionari, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, northeastern Italy, since he was a teenager. He attended the Italian Baseball Softball Federation (FIBS) Academy, then signed for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). Mineo, a left-handed hitting catcher, played for the Cubs from 2012 to 2017 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 and 2019. He combined 396 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) games, including four at Triple-A and 83 at Double-A.
"Baseball made me the man I am," Mineo told the WBSC. "I had to cope with the little English I knew and a minor leaguer's salary in the United States. Playing in Nicaragua was another learning experience. I felt comfortable there; I loved it."
During the 2024-25 season, Mineo contributed to a pair of pennant campaigns. He won the Italian scudetto (pennant) with Parma and the Nicaragua Professional Winter League with Leon.
"Leon is not a big city. Everybody knows each other, and everybody will recognize you. People are very kind, and the city has a lot of history. I'm grateful I could explore it during my free time," Mineo added.
The level of baseball also impressed Mineo. "I knew it would be good baseball, but what I experienced was better than expected. Local players are good, and the teams hire high-profile foreigners."
Alberto Mineo represented Italy 56 times in international baseball, including the inaugural WBSC Premier12 in 2015 and the World Baseball Classic 2023. He also played for Team Europe at the Global Baseball Games 2024.
Italy will compete in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but they failed to qualify for the WBSC Premier12 in 2019 and 2024, and they haven't qualified for the Olympics since Athens 2004.
"I know newly elected FIBS President Marco Mazzieri well, and I'm sure he will do what's possible to put us in the best position to win. We have a new manager [Francisco Cervelli], and everybody is ready to work hard to take our National Team where it deserves."