Former Mets legend Mike Piazza announced Wednesday morning that he will manage Team Italy in the European Tournament next year and the World Baseball Classic in 2021.
Piazza was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Mets also retired his No. 31 that year as well. The 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger Award winner is widely regarded as the greatest hitting catcher of all-time. His 396 home runs hit as a catcher are a Major League record.
Piazza played for Team Italy in the very first WBC back in 2006. He then served as the hitting coach for Italy during the 2009 WBC and 2013 WBC. Italy manager Marco Mazzieri retired following the 2017 WBC tournament creating the opening for Piazza. The former Mets slugger was the manager for the U.S. team in the 2011 Futures Game.
Current Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo played for Team Italy in the 2017 classic, as did former Mets Gavin Cecchini and Drew Butera.
