Team Italy catcher and designated hitter Drew Butera recently signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies with an invitation to Spring Training Camp in Clearwater, Florida beginning February 12, 2019. The 35-year-old MLB veteran with nine years of experience in the Big Leagues will be competing for an opening day roster spot against 27-year-old Andrew Knapp and any Phillies catching prospects as the back-up to All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The proud Italian American, who has represented Team Italy in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics, has an early opt-out clause of March 21, 2019 to jump ship to another MLB organization during Spring Training if a better opportunity exists elsewhere. Drew Butera is the son of Team Italy coach Sal Butera – a journeyman catcher who played 359 MLB games for the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos and Detroit Tigers from 1980-1988.