Following in the footsteps of former Italian Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Claudio Scotti, who also trained under late and great Team Italy pitching coach Bill Holmberg and signed with the Bucs franchise in 2016, 16-year-old Azzurrini pitcher Alessandro Ercolani is headed to the Pirate City state-of-the-art training facility in Bradenton, Florida next month to begin his MLB journey.

Among the 30-plus high school-aged amateur players from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America invited to participate in 2019 MLB College Showcase in Arizona, Alessandro Ercolani tipped off scouts when he struck out Arizona State slugger Spencer Torkelson on three pitches.