World Baseball Classic: Vinnie Pasquantino laughs off Stephen A. Smith criticism: 'He said I was betraying the country'
World Baseball Classic: Vinnie Pasquantino laughs off Stephen A. Smith criticism: 'He said I was betraying the country'
Chris CwikTue, March 17, 2026 at 2:08 PM UTC
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Italy’s miraculous World Baseball Classic run came to an end Monday. After upsetting the United States early and surging to the semifinal, Vinnie Pasquantino and Italy fell 4-2 to Venezuela.
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While Team Italy ultimately came up short, the squad will go down as one of the more memorable teams to take part in the 2026 tournament. During its run, Italy captured the hearts of many, thanks to their espresso celebration and overall joy for the game.
No player better represented that joy than Pasquantino, who many teammates credited as the ringleader of the team.
Pasquantino, notably, was born in Virginia, not Italy. But he was allowed to play for Team Italy due to his family history. Pasquantino — who was not the only player in that situation — has been vocal about why he chose to represent Italy, and has stated many times that he’s hoping the team’s success inspires more kids in Italy to take up baseball.
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Still, Pasquantino’s decision to suit up for Italy didn’t sit well with at least one talking head. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith wasn’t a fan of the American-born Pasquantino suiting up for Italy.
Smith’s criticisms made their way to Pasquantino, who brushed them aside with enthusiasm following Team Italy’s loss Monday.
Pasquantino’s full comments on Smith read:
“I think Stephen A. Smith, I think he called me a — I think he said I was betraying the country or something. I thought that was amazing. He kept saying how I was from Richmond, Virginia.
“And he said my name right. I thought that was incredible. That’s great for the game right there.
“He was live tweeting the game last night, which is really funny because some of the takes he had were just wrong. But that’s the fun of it, right?
“So I don’t take anything he said personally because I think it’s great for the game just to be talked about on that stage.
“That was probably the one where I got sent a clip of him saying I’m betraying everybody. So I’m sorry to those that I’ve betrayed in this tournament.”
The 28-year-old Pasquantino has earned the right to celebrate following his performance in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Kansas City Royals’ first baseman got on base at a .379 clip in the tournament and posted a .591 slugging percentage, thanks to a three-home-run game against Mexico.
With Italy’s run over, Pasquantino will now turn his attention back to the Royals. If his World Baseball Classic joy carries over into the MLB season, it might not be long before the Royals become America’s team during the summer.
Source: “AOL Sports”
