Samuel Aldegheri (born September 19, 2001) is an Italian professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024. He is the first Italian MLB pitcher.[1]

Samuel Aldegheri
Los Angeles Angels – No. 66
Pitcher
Born: (2001-09-19) September 19, 2001 (age 23)
Verona, Italy
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 30, 2024, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
(through September 15, 2024)
Win–loss record1–2
Earned run average4.85
Strikeouts10
Teams

Career

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Philadelphia Phillies

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Aldegheri played for the Parma Clima of the Italian Baseball League in 2019 and 2020. In July 2019, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent.[2] He made his professional debut in 2021 with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies before being promoted to the Low-A Clearwater Threshers. He was placed on the injured list with a left elbow injury on August 20 and missed the remainder of the season and a portion of the following season, which he spent exclusively in the Florida Complex League.[3]

Aldegheri returned to Clearwater for the start of the 2023 season before being promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws on August 3.[3] After the 2023 season ended, his control was ranked the best in the Phillies farm system by Baseball America.[3] Aldegheri returned to Jersey Shore for the start of the 2024 season.[4]

Los Angeles Angels

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On July 27, 2024, the Phillies traded Aldegheri and George Klassen to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Carlos Estévez.[5][6]

On August 29, 2024, the Angels called Aldegheri up to the major leagues for the first time.[7] While other Italian-born pitchers had previously appeared in the major leagues, such as Marino Pieretti,[8] Aldegheri became the first pitcher born and raised in Italy to appear in an MLB game,[9] when he made his debut with the Angels on August 30.[10]

Reference

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  1. ^ Rhett Bollinger (August 31, 2024). "'Anyone can make it': Aldegheri makes history for Italy in debut". Archived from the original on October 4, 2024.
  2. ^ Gelb, Matt. "The pitching paisan: Sam Aldegheri, a Phillies pitching prospect from Italy, has big(-league) dreams". The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Philadelphia Phillies 2024 Media Guide. Internet Archive. pp. 378, 380, 387.
  4. ^ Matson, Jake. "BlueClaws tout top Phillies' prospects - with an Opening Night starting pitcher from Italy". app.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Passan, Jeff (July 27, 2024). "Phillies land Angels closer Carlos Estevez for two prospects". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  6. ^ Zolecki, Todd (July 27, 2024). "Phils acquire reliever Estévez from Angels for pair of top pitching prospects". Retrieved July 28, 2024.
  7. ^ McDonald, Darragh (August 29, 2024). "Angels To Promote Caden Dana, Samuel Aldegheri". Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Birth, Death and Cemetery Locations in Italy". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (August 30, 2024). "Halos prospect Aldegheri set to make history for Italy". MLB.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mariners vs. Angels". ESPN.com. August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
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