Overview
- MLB Auctions sold Team Italy’s dugout espresso machine for $16,510, with net proceeds going to the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center.
- The device was authenticated as the exact unit used in the upset of the United States, the quarterfinal win over Puerto Rico, and the semifinal loss to Venezuela.
- Italy celebrated home runs with quick espresso shots during the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which helped turn the appliance into a fan favorite.
- Despite the price, the machine was a simple plastic, one-button model, so its value came from the story it carried.
- Manager Francisco Cervelli said the machine went everywhere with the team, underscoring how the ritual expressed Italian culture.