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The Toronto Blue Jays have added to their roster by signing a player who won't even be able to show up right away.
That's because they've just signed a catcher playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
The WBC isn't even underway yet, and it already has a new MLB signing.
Francys Romero reported the news on Wednesday:
"Hours before the start of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the first player from a tournament roster has already signed with an MLB organization. Catcher Giaconino Lasaracina, 22, who is on Italy’s roster, has signed with the Toronto Blue Jays."
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Lasaracina was actually born in Venezuela. He's listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and both bats and throws right-handed.
He has three seasons listed on his Baseball Reference page for time in the Italy Serie A baseball league, from 2022-24.
Lasaracina has been a monster in that league. Across three seasons, he had a .374 batting average and a 1.030 OPS.
In 91 games across those three seasons, Lasaracina hit 36 doubles, eight triples and six home runs while stealing 16 bases.
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Clearly, it's a huge step up in competition from that league to affiliated ball stateside.
The Blue Jays likely have seen something in the more recent term that convinces them that this was worth a chance.
And now, Toronto fans have one more player to root for as the WBC gets rolling. He's a new face, but maybe he'll have a future with the Blue Jays if he can pull off an improbable rise.
More MLB news:
- Team USA has a finalized WBC roster and an awesome lineup
- Dominican Republic WBC roster is loaded with stars
- An Edwin Diaz nightmare looms for the Mets
- Buster Posey will change Hall of Fame voting forever
- How Jose Ramirez is on pace to become Cleveland's Derek Jeter
- Phillies' phenom has an MLB All-Star father
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