Aaron Nola will get a head start on the mound this season.
The 32-year-old will pitch for Team Italy in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced on Wednesday night at the 121st Philadelphia Sports Writers Association banquet at The DoubleTree by Hilton in Cherry Hill, N.J.
During his acceptance speech for the organization’s Good Guy Award, Thomson told those in attendance the veteran will be representing Italy in the global tournament.
“Aaron Nola is going to pitch for Team Italy in the WBC,” Thomson said.
“He’s going to get a head start. He’s going to have a bounce-back year.”
Nola’s 2025 season was a bumpy one, dealing with injury and ineffectiveness. In 17 starts last season, he posted a career-worst 6.01 ERA in 94⅓ ⅓ innings, marking his toughest season in the bigs after what has been a rather long and successful career.
He is now the ninth Phillie who will be competing in the World Baseball Classic, which begins for Team Italy on March 7 when they take on Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston.
Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Brad Keller are suiting up for Team USA. Garrett Stubbs will represent Israel, Edmundo Sosa will play for Panama and Johan Rojas will represent the Dominican Republic, while Taijuan Walker and Alan Rangel will take the mound for Team Mexico.
In 2023, Italy was one of the more surprising teams, reaching the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Japan, who ultimately won the title.
