University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Mark Campbell
Marinaccio Selected to Compete for Team Italy in World Baseball Classic
2/19/2026 1:36:00 PM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. -Â University of Delaware baseball alum Ron Marinaccio has been selected to pitch for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) this spring.
The WBC will take place from March 5-17 and will be held across four locations - LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, (host of quarterfinal, semifinals and finals), Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan and Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Marinaccio currently pitches for the San Diego Padres, and previously pitched for the New York Yankees. In his four-year career in Major League Baseball, he has pitched in 125 innings, boasted a career 3.02 ERA and struck out 149 batters.
The Tom Rivers, New Jersey native pitched for the Fightin' Blue Hens from 2014-17. In his career, he threw in over 207.2 innings, struck out 184 batters with an ERA of 3.90. He was a key player when UD won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship back in 2017, throwing a complete-game, two-hit shutout in the tournament opener against the College of Charleston.Â
Italy will play its first WBC contest on Saturday, March 7 against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. The squad will also play Great Britain (March 8), the United States (March 10), and Mexico (March 11) as part of pool play.Â
TICKETS
Season and individual tickets are available for all of Delaware's 2026 home games. Click here to secure your seats for the next game.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware baseball, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
The WBC will take place from March 5-17 and will be held across four locations - LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, (host of quarterfinal, semifinals and finals), Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan and Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Marinaccio currently pitches for the San Diego Padres, and previously pitched for the New York Yankees. In his four-year career in Major League Baseball, he has pitched in 125 innings, boasted a career 3.02 ERA and struck out 149 batters.
The Tom Rivers, New Jersey native pitched for the Fightin' Blue Hens from 2014-17. In his career, he threw in over 207.2 innings, struck out 184 batters with an ERA of 3.90. He was a key player when UD won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship back in 2017, throwing a complete-game, two-hit shutout in the tournament opener against the College of Charleston.Â
Italy will play its first WBC contest on Saturday, March 7 against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. The squad will also play Great Britain (March 8), the United States (March 10), and Mexico (March 11) as part of pool play.Â
TICKETS
Season and individual tickets are available for all of Delaware's 2026 home games. Click here to secure your seats for the next game.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware baseball, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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