Club Italia LA28’s Historic Training Opportunity with the Royals
Well, folks, get ready to give a round of applause because Club Italia LA28 pitchers and catchers have just scored a golden ticket! They ventured to the luxurious Kansas City Royals training facility in Surprise, Arizona—all thanks to the ever-dedicated Nick Leto. Talk about a Happy Meal for aspiring baseball talents! This wasn’t your average backyard scrimmage; this was the real deal, and I don’t mean like that one time I accidentally confused a baseball with a grapefruit!
Now, let’s chat about Nick Leto. He’s not just another guy wearing a baseball cap; he’s the Royals’ minor league operations director, entering his 18th season with the franchise. Clearly, continuity is key in baseball—and maybe in relationships too, but that’s a conversation for my therapist! Nick has always been the maestro advocating for the growth and development of baseball in Italy. His friendship with the late, legendary FIBS Hall of Fame member Bill Holmberg blossomed at the Tirrenia Academy back in ’06 and ’07. You could say it’s a love story—but for baseball!
Gianguido Poma, the Development Director of Team Italy and the mastermind behind the camp in Arizona, was practically gushing with gratitude for Nick and the Royals. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited about unlimited access to a top-notch training facility? He said, “I want to publicly thank Nick and the Royals and let it be known how much the players and staff appreciated the opportunity to train with professional athletes and coaches.” I can almost hear the sound of coaches shouting, “Run faster!” echoing in his heart.
And let’s get back to the man of the hour—Nick Leto! He absolutely relished the time spent hosting these eager Italian pitchers and catchers. He stated, “A lot of the guys at Club Italia LA28 experienced a lot of things for the first time…” A bit like my first date, where I learned that holding hands can be quite tricky when you’re both sweating profusely! But I digress. Nick’s goal was crystal clear: to provide young players with experiences that would help them develop and improve. He clearly sees his role as both an opportunity-maker and a baseball fairy godmother—minus the wand, of course!
In a world where you can order anything from your couch, it’s a pleasure to see athletes heading into the arena for some good old-fashioned training—and in what better place than with the Kansas City Royals! Playing with pros, engaging in drills, and soaking in the essence of what it means to be a professional player? That’s nothing short of a masterclass in baseball!
So, hats off to Nick Leto, the Royals, and the fantastic Club Italia LA28 team for this remarkable experience. If only I could pitch as well as I can dish out these zingers! Keep your eyes peeled, folks; you never know when an Italian is going to hit a home run and make history, one cheeky grin at a time!
Club Italia LA28 pitchers and catchers had the historic opportunity to access training resources and activities like never before at the Kansas City Royals training facility in Surprise, Arizona, thanks to Nick Leto.
The Royals’ minor league operations director, who is entering his 18th season with the KC franchise, has always been an advocate for the growth and development of baseball in Italy. A friendship born from working closely with the late, great FIBS Hall of Fame member Bill Holmberg at the Tirrenia Academy in 2006 and 2007.
The Development Director of Team Italy Gianguido Pomawho conducted the camp in Arizona, greatly appreciated the hospitality reserved for Club Italia players and the unlimited access to the state-of-the-art facility. “I want to publicly thank Nick and the Royals and let it be known how much the players and staff appreciated the opportunity to train with professional athletes and coaches in a top-notch facility.”
Nick
Leto he enjoyed every minute of hosting the Italian pitchers and catchers. He said: “A lot of the guys at Club Italia LA28 experienced a lot of things for the first time. I wanted to be able to give young players this experience and provide any kind of opportunity to develop and improve as much as possible. To be able to help FIBS in any way is simply an honor.”
Photos of Club Italia LA28 pitchers and catchers at the Kansas City Royals spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona (GCPFilms.com)
Roberto Angotti
