Editor’s note: Every other week, Nevada Sports Net will spotlight a local athlete as part of our “Legendary Athletes” series, which is presented in partnership with Legends Bay Casino. Today’s featured athlete is Nevada Wolf Pack baseball alum Miles Mastrobuoni, a member of the Seattle Mariners who is entering his fifth season in the big leagues.
Miles Mastrobuoni has dug into plenty of batter’s boxes in his baseball career, including the one at Peccole Park when he starred for the Nevada baseball team in 2016.
But Mastrobuoni, who is preparing for his fifth season in the major leagues, had a one-of-kind experience digging into a batter’s box in 2023.
Now a Seattle Mariner, Mastrobuoni was playing for Team Italy facing Team Japan in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. He did so in the sold out 45,600-capacity Tokyo Dome. And on the mound in front of his home fans was none other than perhaps the greatest baseball player ever, Shohei Ohtani.
“When you look at the bigger picture, it’s one of those things where you take a step back and you’re, like, ‘Dang, that’s pretty cool,'” Mastrobuoni said. “Just to be playing against the game’s best on the world stage is pretty special. As the athlete, you try and treat it like another at-bat. It doesn’t matter who’s on the bump. Being over in Japan playing them is obviously going to heighten some things a little bit and get the adrenaline going.”
No official Team Italy roster has been released for this year’s WBC, which starts March 5. But Mastrobuoni has been tabbed by most analysts as a starter for the team, which was managed in 2023 by Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and will be this year by former big-league catcher Francisco Cervelli.
“It’d be sweet to do it again,” Mastrobuoni said of playing in the WBC. “There’s been some talk going around right now, so we’re just waiting to see the final steps on how the roster shakes out and go from there. We’re staying here in the States (Team Italy’s group stage is in Houston), so it’ll be a good experience and good environments and a big playoff atmosphere with some high-intensity games, which is always good.”
Mastrobuoni made his MLB postseason debut last season with the Mariners, who were one game shy of reaching the World Series after losing to Toronto in seven games in the American League Championship Series. The 30-year-old logged a career-best 76 games in 2025, hitting .250 while playing six positions, including one scoreless inning of relief as a pitcher.
A former 14th-round draft pick, Mastrobuoni spent six seasons in the minors leagues before making his big-league debut in 2022. He’s spent parts of each of the last four seasons in the majors with stints with the Rays, Cubs and Mariners. Mastrobuoni’s defensive versatility has been a big plus, which is something he credits to his time playing at Nevada under then-coach TJ Bruce, who was hired after Mastrobuoni committed to Wolf Pack coach Jay Johnson.
“It was a huge step for me,” Mastrobuoni said of his season at Nevada following two years at the College of San Mateo. “Bruce coming in, he defensively put me in a spot where I never thought my game would be. But I’ve really got to shout out the team that we had there. It was one of the more fun teams I’ve been on, and that makes all the difference. Showing up to the field every single day with a smile on your face being around your best friends and everything like that, I still talk to a decent amount of people from that team in 2016. It plays a huge role. You get the support now from all the guys that are texting, ‘Keep going’ and everything like that. Nevada, and especially Reno, holds a special place in my heart for sure.”
Mastrobuoni also experienced a special season last year with the Mariners, who won their first AL West championship since 2001 en route to the playoff run, which included a 15-inning elimination-game win over the Tigers in the divisional round. Mastrobuoni also got to witness teammate Cal Raleigh bopping 60 homers to become the seventh player in MLB history hit that milestone while setting the record for most homers by a catcher and a switch-hitter in a season.
“There’s a few guys on that team that had some crazy years,” Mastrobuoni said. “To have a front-row seat to that with Cal and (Jorge) Polanco did some of the arms on our staff, Julio (Rodriguez) is always in the mix with what he does. He’s a special player. So, to have a front-row seat to watch them do their thing is pretty special. It was one of those dream years where you get into the playoffs and the Game 5 (ALDS) win was a big one and you push all the way to Game 7 (in the ALCS). Unfortunately there’s only one team that holds up the trophy at the end but getting close kind of lit a little fire under us, and we’re ready to roll this year.”
Mastrobuoni has split each of his last four seasons between Triple-A and the big leagues, logging 195 in the majors and 253 in the minors during that period. As he enters the 2026 season, Mastrobuoni is looking to stick at the major-league level all season, with a stint in the WBC perhaps a precursor to that. After beginning his career in junior college, Mastrobuoni has been a baseball survivor, accomplishing things many would not have predicted.
“A lot of hard work is kind of obvious one,” Mastrobuoni said of his success. “But just kind of keeping my head down, staying focused, taking it one year at a time. I preach a lot about just being where your feet are and taking it one level at a time and conquering it. And the next thing you know you kind of find yourself knocking at the door and you’re trying to find those other things that will get you through there and hopefully be able to break through and have a full season in the majors this year.”
You can watch the full interview with Miles Mastrobuoni at the top of this page.