Guardians infielder Rocchio joins Italy to prepare for the semifinal against Venezuela in the Classic.

Cleveland Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio will join the Italian team to compete in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic semifinal against Venezuela. Manager Francisco Cervelli announced this today.

Rocchio will replace Seattle Mariners infielder Miles Mastrobuoni, who suffered a calf injury during Italy's group stage victory over the United States.

Rocchio was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and has grandparents of Italian descent. Italy contacted the Guardians earlier last week to inquire about the availability of the 25-year-old player, but his status remained uncertain until Sunday. If Italy had lost to Puerto Rico in the Classic quarterfinal on Sunday, Rocchio would have clearly remained in Arizona with the Guardians. Italy ultimately won 8-6, but the victory was not smooth. Italy led 8-2 after four innings, but Puerto Rico scored four runs in the eighth inning to narrow the gap.

While that game was taking place in Miami, Rocchio started as the second baseman in Peoria Sports Complex for the Guardians' 5-8 loss to the San Diego Padres, recording one hit in three at-bats.

“If they had won yesterday, he would have gone,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said today, “It was a situation changing minute by minute. When Puerto Rico started rallying, we were thinking, ‘Alright, he might not go. Okay, he's going again.’”

“…He'll go to play one or two games and then return. So it's a choice between staying in Arizona for two games or going to play two games.”

The Italian team will face Venezuela tomorrow in Miami. If Italy advances, they will play the winner between the United States and Dominican Republic in the championship game on Wednesday.

Rocchio is expected to begin the new season as the Guardians' starting second baseman. In 115 games during the 2025 season, his slash line was .233/.290/.340. This switch-hitter has demonstrated clutch ability during his brief three-year MLB career. In 13 postseason games, Rocchio batted .310 with an .883 OPS, earning the nickname "Postseason Rocchio."

Last season, Rocchio hit a go-ahead home run in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Tigers, securing the Guardians' only win in the series. Just days earlier, Rocchio blasted a walk-off three-run homer in the tenth inning to help Cleveland clinch the AL Central division title.

Rocchio's next clutch moment will arrive Monday night, when he steps into one of baseball's most electric atmospheres.