Guardians' Festa Brings Italian Flair and Caffeine Buzz to Cleveland's Bullpen
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Matt Festa is back with the Guardians, fresh off a spirited World Baseball Classic run with Team Italy. He’s bringing more than just his pitching prowess to Cleveland this season-he’s looking to add a touch of Italian espresso magic to the bullpen.
Festa, who pitched for Italy, shared a unique tradition from the Classic: players celebrated home runs with shots of espresso. Inspired, Festa plans to introduce a Lavazza espresso machine to the Guardians' bullpen.
“I'm a big espresso guy, way too caffeinated all the time,” Festa laughed. “I’m getting a Lavazza machine for the guys, hoping some of that magic spills over into our bullpen.”
Team Italy captured hearts during the Classic, making an unexpected journey to the semifinals. Their camaraderie and Italian-themed celebrations, including the espresso ritual, made them a tournament favorite.
Italy's journey was nothing short of spectacular. They swept through pool play, including a memorable 8-6 victory over Team USA, and secured a quarterfinal spot with a commanding 9-1 win over Mexico.
Their semifinal dreams ended with a 4-2 loss to eventual champions Venezuela, but their impact resonated far beyond the field. Italian newspapers buzzed with their success, and Festa’s social media was flooded with Italian messages.
“We were underdogs from the start,” Festa reflected. “But we managed to grow the game in Italy.”
Festa showcased his skills with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts against Great Britain. Despite allowing four runs in subsequent games, the experience was invaluable. He compared the electrifying atmosphere against Venezuela to a postseason game, a perfect primer for the MLB season.
Last year, Festa was a reliable presence for the Guardians, ranking third in appearances with a 4.12 ERA, 3.14 FIP, and 1.08 WHIP. “The game against Venezuela was wild, so loud,” he recalled. “But I’m feeling good and ready for the season.”
As Festa gears up for another year with the Guardians, he hopes his espresso-fueled enthusiasm will catch on. Whether it’s the espresso machine or another celebration, Festa’s bringing a taste of Italy to Cleveland. Team Italy’s espresso machine, now a piece of memorabilia, symbolized their joyful spirit-players added their jersey number to it after home runs, complete with a double kiss on the cheek and a blue jacket celebration.
The Guardians’ bullpen might just get a little more lively-and a lot more caffeinated-this season.