Vinnie Pasquantino blasts three homers in historic WBC effort for Italy

Royals first baseman becomes first player to hit 3 HRs in a WBC game, leading Italy to 9-1 win over Mexico

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Vinnie Pasquantino, the Royals first baseman, made history by becoming the first player to hit three home runs in a World Baseball Classic game, leading Italy to a 9-1 victory over Mexico. Pasquantino's heroics, which included a solo shot, a two-run blast, and a solo homer, fueled Italy's perfect pool play record and a spot in the quarterfinals.

Why it matters

Pasquantino's performance was a standout moment in the 2026 WBC, showcasing his power and helping Italy advance in the tournament. His three-homer game was the first of its kind in WBC history, further cementing the event as a platform for international baseball stars to shine.

The details

Pasquantino, who was 0-for-12 in the tournament prior to the game, set the tone early with a solo homer in the second inning. He then went deep again in the sixth and eighth innings, extending Italy's lead. Pasquantino's final plate appearance resulted in a walk, capping off his historic performance.

  • Pasquantino hit a solo home run in the second inning to give Italy a 1-0 lead.
  • Pasquantino hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to extend Italy's lead to 6-0.
  • Pasquantino hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to make the score 8-1 in Italy's favor.

The players

Vinnie Pasquantino

A 28-year-old first baseman for the Kansas City Royals who became the first player in World Baseball Classic history to hit three home runs in a single game.

Bobby Witt Jr.

A Royals teammate of Pasquantino who also advanced to the quarterfinals of the WBC with Team USA.

Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback who praised Pasquantino's performance on social media.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Go crazy then! @VPasquantino”

— Patrick Mahomes (X)

“I'm caffeinated. I'm beaned up right now”

— Vinnie Pasquantino, Player (FS1)

“You're welcome, USA. We were thinking of you guys over at your hotel. We were thinking of you guys, so I'm glad you guys are joining us in the party.”

— Vinnie Pasquantino, Player (FS1)

“I don't even know what I'm feeling right now. I've never felt this before. I know we haven't won anything. We won the pool and we advanced, but we weren't supposed to, right? We had expectations that we could and we did.”

— Vinnie Pasquantino, Player (FS1)

“As many as we need when asked if more pods are on order. We'll make it happen. That was unbelievable, huh.”

— Vinnie Pasquantino, Player (FS1)

What’s next

Team Italy will play Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.

The takeaway

Vinnie Pasquantino's historic three-homer performance in the World Baseball Classic showcased his power and helped Italy advance in the tournament, further cementing the WBC as a platform for international baseball stars to shine on the global stage.