World Baseball Classic team celebrates home runs with dugout espresso shots

Each World Baseball Classic (WBC) team has its own home run celebrations, whether it’s a special Dominican Republic jacket or coordinated handshakes with Team USA.

But the Italian team has perhaps the best of all: the players have an espresso made from a machine located directly in the dugout.

It’s about as Italian as it gets.

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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 Pool B game between Brazil and Italy at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

The machine is at the end of the dugout, but players and coaches can get their quick caffeine fix. And this is not something new from this group.

At the 2023 WBC, there was a Nespresso machine in the dugout, and it worked for the team. They managed to advance out of the group stage for only the second time in the tournament.

So why not bring it back?

First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who plays for the Kansas City Royals, also appears to be the leader in the ring with the machine when a player goes into the yard. After giving the home run player an espresso, he gives him a kiss on both cheeks – a traditional Italian sign of affection.

“In Italy we drink coffee about 20 times a day,” manager Francisco Cervelli, who played in the big leagues, said via MLB.com. “It’s a tradition. You walk down the street. You see a cafe, have a coffee. Then you chat, then keep walking and do the same thing over and over again. That’s how Italy is.”

Vinnie Pasquantino of Team Italy holds an espresso during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game 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 manager in January 2025, said the espresso machine “accompanies us everywhere”, and he also learned this during the European Baseball Championship last year.

“It’s a normal thing. We had it on the bus. We had it in the dugout, everywhere.”

Superstition or not, Italy has enjoyed early success in Houston’s Pool B, which also includes Team USA. They are 2-0 in the tournament so far, beating Brazil 8-0 and beating Great Britain 7-4 on Sunday.

Dante Nori of Team Italy drinks an espresso in the dugout after hitting a home run in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B presented by Capital One game between Team Brazil and Team Italy at Daikin Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB)

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Italy’s next game is against Team USA on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET.

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