Samuel Aldegheri Becomes First Italian Born and Raised to Reach Major League Baseball

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/angels_samuel_aldegheri_accomplished_feat_last_done_in_1949/s1_13132_40855503

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Samuel Aldegheri has already made history this season. Aldegheri made his debut on August 30, allowing seven runs, two earned, on six hits and two walks over five innings, striking out three. He became the first person born and raised in Italy to reach the majors and only the eighth major leaguer born in that country.

The Angels gave Aldegheri another chance despite a difficult start. He rose to the occasion on Friday, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks in six innings while striking out seven batters. Aldegheri earned his first major league win in the Angels’ 5-1 victory over the Rangers, becoming the first Italian pitcher to record a win since Marino Pieretti in 1949.

Aldegheri received a $200,000 bonus from the Phillies as an international free agent in 2019, but was unable to join the organization until 2021 due to the pandemic. He slowly climbed the ranks, reaching Double-A before being sent to the Angels as part of the Carlos Estevez trade. Aldegheri made four Double-A starts for the Angels before making his major league debut.