Pitcher Rejoices in ‘Tribulations’ After Italy Upsets US at World Baseball Classic

Published: March 13, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Team Italy pitcher Michael Lorenzen grounds his outlook on life in God’s command to rejoice in all circumstances.

“You know, the foundation of my faith is to rejoice in tribulation because it produces patience and perseverance, and I truly believe that,” Lorenzen said after Italy upset the United States in the World Baseball Classic, per Sports Spectrum. “So when a challenge presents itself, even if I would have given up 10 today, I would have said, ‘Thank You, Lord, for the opportunity.'”

“It’s a way for me to grow in maturity, grow my relationship with him,” the pitcher continued. “So success, failure, it just allows me to attack opportunity, attack challenges. It frees me up to be able to do that, and I’m grateful to be able to do that, and that’s just because of the foundation of my faith.”

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Lorenzen allowed only two hits in his 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

In 2016, the athlete’s father died. When he returned to the mound, Lorenzen pitched “1 2/3 scoreless innings and also batted for just the fourth time this season,” per the MLB.

In the first pitch of the at-bat, he slammed a three-run home run to secure the first home run of his career.

“Definitely, everything happens for a reason,” Lorenzen told the media after the game. “It was something that I look and just praised God for. It was something special, not only for me, but for my family. Everyone that’s been supporting us, I just want to say thank you for the prayers and just the support. It’s really helped out a lot, just people reaching out. It’s humbled me, this whole situation. Everything that happened tonight, I don’t think I will ever feel that way again.”

Despite the amazing outcome, it wasn’t easy for Lorenzen to step into the batter’s box.

“Even after the third out of my first inning I threw, I had to go back into the bathroom because I broke down,” he said. “There were some teammates back there that were able to help me out. I was able to go out and hit.”

In 2023, the right-handed pitcher took a moment to thank God after he threw a no-hitter against the Nationals.

Lorenzen declared over and over again that “God is good” and that “the only thing I can do is just step back and thank God for everything, literally everything that He’s done for me.”