The pitcher who shut down Team USA in the World Baseball Classic wasn’t who many fans expected. Michael Lorenzen, the Colorado Rockies right-hander born in Anaheim, California, threw 4⅔ scoreless innings to help Italy defeat the United States 8–6 at Daikin Park in Houston. The performance on March 10, 2026, delivered one of the tournament’s biggest upsets — and introduced many casual fans to the MLB veteran now pitching for Italy.
How Lorenzen Shut Down Team USA’s LineupLorenzen was dominant from the first pitch. He allowed just two hits and one walk over his 4⅔ innings, leaving the mound with Italy up 5–0. Italy’s offense later pushed the lead to 8–0 before the United States staged a late rally with six runs. It fell short. Italy won 8–6 in one of the biggest upsets in World Baseball Classic history.
“It’s kind of weird throwing against your own country,” Lorenzen said, per ESPN. “But it was an incredible night.”
In a postgame interview, Lorenzen broke down how he attacked the U.S. lineup.
“Obviously, they’re really good hitters. They’re not going to stretch the zone a ton. So you got to trust your stuff. Be in the zone, mix and match. Have a good have a good plan, and yeah, we were just able to be efficient. Kind of get early out, some ground ball outs and just keep it rolling,” Lorenzen said.
The U.S. hitters couldn’t generate a single run while he was on the mound.
Why an American-Born Pitcher Represented Italy in the World Baseball ClassicLorenzen was born and raised in Anaheim, California, and plays for the Colorado Rockies. So how did he end up pitching for Italy?
World Baseball Classic rules allow players to compete for countries where they have heritage or ancestry that makes them eligible for citizenship. That rule has allowed many players with Italian roots to suit up for the Italian national team.
There was also a scheduling factor at play. Lorenzen pitched against Team USA specifically because the Colorado Rockies did not want to disrupt their rotation plans for the regular season by having him throw a day later against Mexico.
Lorenzen’s Career Spans More Than a DecadeLorenzen’s MLB journey goes back to 2013, when the Cincinnati Reds drafted him 38th overall in the first round out of Cal State Fullerton. At Fullerton, he was both a pitcher and an outfielder for the Titans.
He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2015. Since then, he has made 119 starts and been selected to one All-Star team. He’s worn a lot of uniforms: the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals.
Lorenzen signed with the Angels for the 2022 season and with the Tigers before 2023 — a year that became a career highlight when he earned his All-Star selection. In January 2026, he signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Colorado Rockies.
Lorenzen is married to Cassi Lorenzen, a San Diego State University graduate with a nursing degree who previously played volleyball at Foothill High School. They married in November 2016 at Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego.
The couple welcomed their first child, June Elizabeth, in November 2022 and a baby boy in January 2025.
