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Each World Baseball Classic (WBC) team has its own unique home run celebrations, whether it’s a special Dominican Republic jacket or coordinated handshakes with Team USA.
But Team Italy might have the best one of all: The players sip a shot of espresso, which is made from a machine right in the dugout.
It is as Italian as possible.
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Dante Nori of Italy celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against Brazil during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Group B game between Brazil and Italy at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
The machine is located toward the end of the dugout, but players and coaches can get their quick caffeine fix. And it’s nothing new from this group.
During the 2023 WBC, there was a Nespresso machine in the dugout and it worked for the team. They exited the group stage for the second time in the tournament.
So why not get it back?
Kansas City Royals star first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino also appears to be the ring leader with the machine when a player goes to the yard. After giving the player who hit the home run a shot of espresso, he kisses him on both cheeks, a traditional Italian sign of affection.
“In Italy we drink coffee about 20 times a day,” manager Francisco Cervelli, who used to be a catcher in the big leagues, said via MLB.com. “It’s a tradition. You walk down the street. You see a cafe, you have some coffee. Then you chat, you keep walking and you do the same thing over and over again. That’s Italy.”
Vinnie Pasquantino of Team Italy holds a shot of espresso during the Group B game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic presented by Capital One between Team Brazil and Team Italy at Daikin Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB)
Cervelli, who became Italy’s coach in January 2025, said the espresso machine “accompanies us everywhere,” and he also learned that from last year’s European Baseball Championship.
“It’s something normal. We suffered it on the bus. We’ve had it in the dugout, everywhere.”
Superstition or not, Italy has had early success in Group B in Houston, which also features Team USA. They are 2-0 in the tournament so far, defeating Brazil, 8-0, and defeating Great Britain, 7-4, on Sunday.
Team Italy’s Dante Nori drinks a shot of espresso in the dugout after hitting a home run in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic presented by Capital One Group B game between Team Brazil and Team Italy at Daikin Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB)
Italy’s next match will be against Team USA on Tuesday night at 8 pm ET.
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