Rimini baseball appears to be saved (for this season)

After many players turned their back on A.S.D. Rimini Pirates it looked like the club would not be able to field a team for the upcoming season in the Serie A1. This would mean it would be demoted to one of the lower Italian leagues. But according to RiminiToday, the flagship team is almost ready.

After club owner and sponsor, Simone Pillisio left the club and joined Nettuno Baseball City, several players joined him and others turned their back on Rimini to look for other clubs. Even players that had just been signed for the upcoming season, like Owen Ozanich and Mark Habek, moved on and signed with Parma.

The Italian transfer period will close at the end of March. Quite some clubs announced the news of the acquisition of new players but Rimini kept quiet.
For a long time, it was unclear if A.S.D. Rimini would be able to field a Serie A1 worthy team but according to RiminiToday, a new team will be ready for the upcoming season.

The new group of players and coaches will be financed by themselves just to make sure Rimini, that was led by late chairman Rino Zangheri since 1972, will not lose its spot in the highest Italian baseball league.

It remains to be seen how strong this team will be. According to the board of the club, no promises can be made but they guarantee a team of young players that will get the opportunity to show how much baseball talent they have, will be fielded. The board makes clear that the „Simone Pillisio“ chapter is over and that a new chapter of players, passion and the wish for hit-and-run will be opened.

If Rimini really manages to field a Serie A1 worthy team, it will also be allowed to participate in the European Champions Cup. But since the club hasn’t told anything about which players will be on the 2019 roster it is hard to tell if they will stand a chance at the highest platform of European club baseball. But for now, be glad the club is saved for the Serie A1 at least for this season.