The World Baseball Classic will return in 2023 after the event was cancelled in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Piazza has confirmed that he will serve as the manager for Italy in the tournament. Trey Mancini is the first Major League player to have committed to the squad.

"We're not going to sneak up on anybody, but I was always a big fan of the Classic," Piazza, who lives in Italy most of the year, said. "I talked to a lot of guys who are interested. We want everyone healthy, nobody to get hurt, and want everyone to play well and enjoy international baseball, which I'm a fan of."  

As planned in 2021, the WBC will expand from 16 teams to 20 teams in 2023.