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Q&A w/ Cardinals Prospect Ettore Giulianelli

Discover Ettore Giulianelli's journey from Italy to becoming the most viral pitcher in baseball

By Kareem Haq |
Sep 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of the hat and glove of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (not pictured) before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of the hat and glove of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (not pictured) before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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Introduction to Cardinals' prospect Ettore Giulianelli

Cardinals pitching prospect Ettore Giulianelli took the world by storm last weekend with his wicked stuff, particularly a curveball of his that had 8" of arm-side run. Last Saturday, I posted a video of a 2-pitch sequence by Giulianelli: a cutter w/ -7" HB and the aforementioned curveball w/ 8" of HB (essentially a screwball). The video completely blew up all over social media and ultimately got the attention of Pitching Ninja, MiLB, and MLB.

Giulianelli is one of the fascinating players in the Cardinals organization not only for his mind-boggling pitches but also his unique backstory, signing from Italy as a 16-year-old international free agent.

Q&A

Coming from Italy, where baseball isn’t very popular, how did you get introduced to it, and what was it like to play it there? When did you realize you could make a career out of it? Who were some of your favorite players to watch growing up?

"When I was young, I enjoyed playing sports and tried many, including soccer, tennis, and swimming. However, when my parents took me to the baseball field, it felt like home. My mom played softball and introduced me to baseball, and I immediately fell in love with the sport. Baseball isn’t very popular in Italy, but I was fortunate enough to play for a great team called the “Falcons” in my hometown of Rimini. The coaches and my teammates helped me to improve and even get into the former Italian Baseball Academy."

"Although the national academy no longer exists, as it has been replaced by regional academies, in 2017, there was a national academy. There, I started working with Bill Holmberg, the pitching coach at the time. He trained me until I signed with the Cardinals. Sadly, he passed away soon after, but thanks to him, I had the opportunity to pursue a career in professional baseball. He taught me everything I know.


Playing baseball in Italy is challenging because there aren't many teams, and it’s not a popular sport, so team budgets are very limited. However, the level of play in the top league is actually quite good! I’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. When I was training at the Italian Baseball Academy, I had the chance to meet and train with some Italian players who were playing professionally in America, and I greatly admire them.


In 2019, I played in a tournament in London sponsored by MLB, where many players from across Europe, divided into teams, competed against each other. During this tournament, I realized I had a real chance, as the Cardinals saw me for the first time there. Growing up, I always watched Jacob deGrom and Tyler Glasnow's pitch—they have always been my number-one idols."

You previously represented Team Italy in the Senior League World Series. Is playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) a dream of yours? Are there any specific Italian players you admire and would love to play alongside?

"Playing in the World Baseball Classic is a dream of mine because it’s always an honor to represent your country. I’ve always admired Alessandro Maestri, an Italian player who made history in Italian baseball and has always supported me on my journey."

In 2019, you signed with the Cardinals as an international free agent. What was the signing process like, and why did you ultimately choose the Cardinals? How hard was it to decide to play professional baseball so far from home at such a young age?

"I signed with the Cardinals when I was 16 years old, and it was the easiest decision of my life. It had always been my dream, and I finally had a shot, so I didn’t let it slip away. I chose the Cardinals because I knew they had a great farm system. They welcomed and helped me in the best way possible, making me feel like I was in the right place."

Your arm-side moving, breaking pitch (some call it a curveball, others call it a screwball) garnered a lot of attention on social media. What do you call the pitch, how do you throw it, and when did you realize it was a special offering?

"I've always called it a curveball because it originally was a 12-6 curveball. However, over time, it started to sink and eventually became more like a screwball. Honestly, I don't know exactly how I throw it. I think I'm throwing a normal curveball, but I can feel it out of my hand that it's going to sink. I realized it was an interesting pitch as soon as I saw it sink."

Your over-the-top arm slot is very unique. Have you always thrown that way? Have your pitches always had a funky movement profile due to the arm slot? Is there anything in particular you worked on to help develop your pitch movement?

"I've always pitched from over the top with normal pitching movements, but over time, without me even realizing it, my arm angle went even higher. Now, it feels completely natural for me to pitch with that arm angle."

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