Justin Crawford may be grabbing headlines as the Phillies’ center fielder of the future, but keep an eye on Dante Nori. This young outfielder is making waves and could be part of the Phillies' plans sooner than expected. Drafted in the first round in 2024, Nori has burst onto the scene with a stellar performance in the World Baseball Classic for Team Italy, hinting at a bright future ahead.
Hailing from Michigan, with Canadian roots, Nori chose to represent Italy to honor his grandparents. Many thought the 21-year-old would mainly serve as a pinch-runner or defensive specialist, given the presence of established players like Jakob Marsee, Dominic Canzone, and Jac Caglianone. However, Team Italy's manager, Francisco Cervelli, had other plans and put him in the starting lineup in left field for their opening game.
Nori didn't disappoint. He made history by launching two home runs in an 8-0 victory over Team Brazil, adding a double and a walk to his impressive stats. This feat made him the first player in Team Italy's history to hit two homers in a single game, showcasing a power surge that caught everyone by surprise.
But Nori wasn't just a one-game wonder. In the next matchup against Great Britain, he continued to impress with two more hits and a walk.
Across his first nine plate appearances in the WBC, Nori posted an eye-popping .714 batting average and a 2.492 OPS, before cooling off with an 0-for-3 outing against Team USA. His performance has likely secured him a starting spot for Italy's crucial final pool game.
While Nori has only had a brief stint at the Double-A level, his 2025 season across three levels saw him slashing .261/.361/.372 over 577 plate appearances. Solid numbers, but not exactly earth-shattering.
The floor for Nori might be similar to Johan Rojas, known for speed and defense as a fourth outfielder. But his potential ceiling is much higher.
Nori's ability to draw walks and maintain a respectable batting average, combined with his speed, makes him a threat on the bases. If the power he's shown in the WBC is a sign of things to come, the Phillies might have a truly dynamic player on their hands.