Blue Jays sign talented catcher off Team Italy as WBC starts rolling

The focus of the baseball world may have turned towards the 2026 World Baseball Classic as it officially got underway on Thursday. But that doesn’t stop the Toronto Blue Jays from making more valuable additions to their organization in the meantime. In fact, their latest acquisition actually has some WBC roots tied to it.

The Blue Jays have signed 22-year-old catcher Giaconino Lasaracina, who is currently a part of Team Italy on their 2026 WBC roster, as per Francys Romero. The transaction took place just prior to the start of the tournament.

Blue Jays sign talented catcher off Team Italy as WBC starts rolling

Lasaracina has spent his only three seasons in professional baseball with Settimo of the Italian Serie A league. Last year, he compiled a .387 average, 1.086 OPS, along with 24 runs scored, 12 doubles, four home runs, 22 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 30 games played. For his career, the 22-year-old has accumulated a .374/.451/.579/1.030 slash line, with 68 runs scored, 36 doubles, eight triples, six home runs, 73 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 91 career games spanning those three seasons. 

Lasaracina might not have massive home run pop, but he has sure made up for it with his solid hitting and running skills. On top of that, he possesses strong plate discipline with 44 walks and just 61 strikeouts in over 395 plate appearances for his career.

Lasaracina is the exact prospect that the Blue Jays need to restock their catching depth within the organization. Ever since the departures of Danny Jansen and top prospect Gabriel Moreno from the organization, the catcher’s position has become a position of weakness for Toronto as there wasn’t really anyone waiting in the wings behind Alejandro Kirk that could make immediate significant contributions at the major league level.

The Blue Jays addressed some of that void last season when they dealt promising infielder Will Wagner at the trade deadline to the San Diego Padres in exchange for catching prospect Brandon Valenzuela. Valenzuela, by the way, has looked solid so far in spring training, sporting a .300 average, along with one run scored and two RBIs in five games of action.

By adding Lasaracina into the mix, the Blue Jays depth at the catcher’s position now looks a lot stronger than it did just a few days ago, potentially making it a position of strength in the coming years.