Francesco Imperiali
From BR Bullpen
Francesco Imperiali
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Born November 10, 1983
Francesco Imperiali is the brother of Renato Imperiali. Francesco debuted with Anzio in 2000 at age 16; he hit .186/.293/.233 with 59 strikeouts in 172 AB against older competition and fielded .902 at shortstop. In the 2001 Baseball World Cup, the youngster hit .238/.333/.286 as a utility infielder for Italy and scored a team-high five runs in six games; he outperformed former minor leaguer Andrea Castri among others.
He returned to Serie A1 in 2004 to bat .258/.335/.294, fielding .930 at third base, his main position.
In 2005, Imperiali became the second baseman for Nettuno; he showed good glovework while hitting .243/.350/.314. Back with Anzio in '06, he batted .263/.339/.338. Francesco was with T&A San Marino in 2007, producing at a .270/.340/.350 rate.
Imperiali remained with San Marino in 2008 and hit .255/.343/.359 as they went on to take their first Italian Baseball League title. He hit .188/.278/.313 in the Grosseto 2008 European Cup. In the 2008 European Cup Final Four, he was 0 for 8 with a walk. In the 2009 European Cup's Matino phase, Imperiali batted .250/.538/.250 with five walks and six runs in three games. Five of his runs came in a win over FC Barcelona. He wound up leading the Matino phase in both walks and runs.
