Aaron Nola returned to Phillies camp with a smile, memories from his first World Baseball Classic, and a feeling of optimism for the coming season.

Aaron Nola's World Baseball Classic start for Italy will have a drastic affect on three different teams' ability to advance.

MIAMI — As a way of summarizing Aaron Nola’s two-week guest spot with Italy’s national baseball team, let’s borrow a phrase that fans in his adopted country can appreciate. Venit, vidit, vicit. Because Nola came from Phillies camp.

Italy made a promise to Aaron Nola before he accepted its invitation to join its baseball team in the World Baseball Classic. Pitch, and at the very least you will eat and drink well. “We had some good \[chicken\] parmigiana over there,

Team Italy, with Aaron Nola on the roster, will face Team Venezuela for a spot in the World Baseball Classic final, where Team USA is already waiting.

Nola pitched five shutout innings and Vinnie Pasquantino had the WBC's first three-homer game to lift Italy past Mexico -- and the U.S. into the next round.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson was at dinner on Wednesday night, so he couldn’t watch Italy play Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. But he followed the action on his phone because he wanted to follow Aaron Nola,