Right-handed pitcher Matteo Bocchi and catcher Alberto Mineo received a special welcome as they took the field with Team Europe in Osaka, Japan, for the Global Baseball Games. A delegation of the Kanagawa Prefecture presented the two players with a bouquet.
The Kanagawa Prefecture is a tourist area in the Tokyo Region, with Kamakura and Hakone being two popular. It is Japan's second most populous prefecture, with over 9.2 million people. Yokohama is the capital.
The Prefecture has signed an agreement with the city of Parma, Italy, where Bocchi and Mineo play. Bocchi, 27, grew up in Parma. Mineo is from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. They both have experience in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) and participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The link with baseball comes from Takahiro Kawagoe, who works for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
"We visited Parma and plan on more visits in the near future. We will soon organize student-exchange programmes."
"While in Parma last year, we had a chance to meet Matteo and Alberto. We thought they would appreciate our welcome."
