Zach Dezenzo is juggling a few different roles at once this week: representing his ancestral homeland, speaking Spanish with reporters, and quietly making his case for a spot on the Houston Astros’ roster.
The 25-year-old Astros infielder, a Canton, OH, native suiting up for Team Italy in World Baseball Classic pool play at Daikin Park, has been drawing attention for reasons that have little to do with box scores. After finishing a media scrum with local reporters Thursday, Dezenzo walked over to a waiting Spanish-language journalist and answered every question fluently in Spanish.
“Some of it is still hard for me to understand, but I took five years of Spanish from eighth grade, then all through high school, and that set the foundation,” Dezenzo told the Houston Chronicle. “And just being around all the guys, obviously, I like to try to have conversations with them.”
Representing His Heritage
Dezenzo’s Italian roots trace back through his father’s side of the family, where a grandfather had an ancestor from Italy, the origin of his surname. When the opportunity came to represent Team Italy, he embraced it, becoming one of several Astros players appearing on the international stage this spring.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, a longtime member of Team Italy, welcomed him in characteristically Italian fashion.
“The first one was Zach Dezenzo,” Pasquantino said. “I sent him over a white tank top that Italians are known for wearing. I found out he was in, we confirmed that he was in and we sent him over one from the visitor’s clubhouse and just said, ‘Welcome to the team.’”
A Timely Opportunity
The timing of the tournament is significant for Dezenzo. He missed most of the 2025 season with hand inflammation and an elbow sprain, making only a handful of rehab appearances late in the year.
With the Astros’ infield crowded and roster spots limited heading toward Opening Day, competitive at-bats against international competition offer a valuable opportunity to show what he can do.
“Playing good baseball can only help me,” Dezenzo said. “Those guys back in West Palm Beach, they’ll still be able to watch and evaluate me.”
Dezenzo is expected to see most of his action at third base for Team Italy, with some time in left field as well. Pool play begins Saturday at 1 p.m. at Daikin Park.
In a spring dominated by injury updates and roster questions, Dezenzo’s story offers a reminder that baseball still has room for moments of personality and pride, even when a player is simultaneously competing for a job.
