91ST MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 11, 2021

Michael Toglia

Nick Lodolo

Nolan Gorman

Coors Field

Futures Game Press Conference

NL - 8, AL - 3

Q. Michael, you're here in Coors Field. You, I guess, played here in an empty Coors Field last year in alternate camp. What did it mean for you to hit that home run? Take me through the experience.

MICHAEL TOGLIA: Yeah, that definitely put me on cloud nine. This is the biggest stage I've ever been in front of. Like you said, we had the alternative site here, so I had another hundred, 200 reps here before anyone else, and that was nice. But to do that in front of the home crowd was unbelievable.

Q. Did it remind you of any home runs you hit in camp, the way the ball carried?

MICHAEL TOGLIA: It does carry, as we saw in the game. Anything in the air had a chance to go out.

Q. The home run, it was the first pitch that you saw there. Did you know you were going to swing no matter what?

MICHAEL TOGLIA: To be honest, I was going to swing no matter what, first pitch. I was looking for a fastball, and he came in and I stayed inside and kept it to the middle of field.

Q. Nick, you guys are facing a lineup full of some of the best young guys in the game in a hitter's ballpark. What's it like to go out and have a clean inning? I think five of you had clean innings today.

NICK LODOLO: Yeah, really you can't do anything about the ballpark. Other than that, I just really tried to go out there and make good pitches, really, especially against good hitters like that. I wasn't trying to make people swing or miss, nothing. Just do what I do and just get out of there.

Q. What was it like seeing Jose do what you've seen Jose do a couple times, and what kind of player has he been?

NICK LODOLO: That was a really cool moment to see. Gave me goosebumps sitting in the bullpen, because I mean, you know what's gone on with Jose. And that was a big moment. And I mean, what else can you say about it?

Q. Nolan, what did you say, if anything, to Liberatore before the game started as you prepared for the first pitch there?

NOLAN GORMAN: I just said, "Go get 'em, have fun, and attack these guys." I didn't tell him to not suck or something like that.

Q. You thought about it, though, right?

NOLAN GORMAN: Yeah.

Q. How good is that slider when he is on with that pitch, the one that struck out Rodriguez, the slider?

NOLAN GORMAN: He's developed that to be one of his best pitches now and it's looked really good against lefties and righties. He's always working on stuff, and that's been really good for him lately.

Q. Did you feel more comfortable in your second at-bat today than the first?

NOLAN GORMAN: Yeah, it felt good. Got a first pitch heater and kind of expected that pitch to be coming, so made sure I got a good swing on it.

Q. You guys are both big power hitters. How fun was it to be part of a lineup hitting five home runs in seven innings?

NOLAN GORMAN: Obviously you saw the display that everyone put on today. A lot of guys hit the ball hard. You know, to be a part of such an elite group of talent is pretty special, and you know, for two guys who have some power, playing in a ballpark like this is pretty exciting for us. He got the job done. I could only get to second base, yeah, but he probably had a lot more fun running around.

MICHAEL TOGLIA: Yeah, building off what he said, it's a good feeling when you know that 1 through 9 have the ability to put it out of the ballpark. When you're in a ballpark like this where the ball flies and using big league balls, it can be a trap to not do too much and not try to hit it 500 feet. But in reality, you only need to hit it one foot over the fence. He actually did a good job staying within his approach and keeping it to a double.

Q. Francisco Alvarez, 19, comes out, had a screaming line for a homer. As power hitters yourselves, what did you make of that kid and what he can do?

MICHAEL TOGLIA: The guy can rake. It's impressive.

Q. Was there a welcome to the Futures Game moment? A few guys talked about Griffey being in the locker room. Was there any moments for you guys that stood out?

NICK LODOLO: For me personally it was just kind of like introductions and the National Anthem, just taking it all in and looking around.

MICHAEL TOGLIA: Yeah, seeing that many people in the stands, that's something that I personally have never seen before. So that really told me like, hey, we are here, this is real. And then they just dropped that Ken Griffey, Jr. was going to be here, last-minute, nonchalantly, and that probably takes the cake.

NOLAN GORMAN: For me, seeing the fans after -- obviously the NL team took BP first and there wasn't anybody allowed in, I don't think. But then coming back out for AL BP and infield and stuff, just seeing fans back in the stands and having fun out there, autographs and all that stuff, it's an exciting moment for everyone.