Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino has 3-word message for Team USA after record-setting WBC game for Italy

The most important performance of the 2026 World Baseball Classic so far for Team USA came from a guy playing for Italy.

If not for what Vinnie Pasquantino did on Wednesday night, the U.S. may have been shockingly eliminated in pool play. Instead, the Kansas City Royals star stole the show in Houston against Mexico and helped the United States.

The U.S. had multiple methods of advancing out of the pool while it watched and waited Wednesday night, but the simplest was this: If Italy won, the U.S. was through.

And then Pasquantino hit three home runs.

It was the first three-homer game in WBC history, and it propelled Italy to a 9-1 win.

Afterward, Pasquantino had a message:

"You're welcome, USA."

Team USA is certainly saying thank you right back.

Vinnie Pasquantino: "You're welcome, USA" pic.twitter.com/3UoQVGuITc

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Pasquantino was the perfect man for the job, with Italy only guaranteeing its own advancement with a win.

He's wearing the captain's 'C' on his chest, and he's the most-established big league hitter they've got. He hit 32 home runs a year ago and was third in the AL in RBI, behind just Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh.

Now, Pasquantino has the crowning moment of his career, and it was good not just for Italy but for the U.S., too.

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