AL WILD CARD SERIES: RAYS VS GUARDIANS

October 7, 2022

Francisco Mejía

Progressive Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Pregame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: First question for Francisco.

Q. Can you just tell us what this week has been like, and congratulations to you on the baby, and just the travel the logistics and how you balanced all the personal team feelings here and everything.

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: Everything was good. Thanks for the congratulations on the baby. But there's just so much going on that I was just waiting for the arrival of the baby.

Q. When did you get up here?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: I arrived yesterday. I was on the family flight. We got here pretty early.

Q. Boy? Girl? Everything good?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: It was a girl. It was my second daughter.

Q. Did you get much rest the last couple days?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: Yeah, I was able to rest a little bit and I got in Tuesday and was able to work out Wednesday and then the baby was born yesterday.

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: I think it's going to be the offense. I think the offense is definitely going to be the difference in the series.

Q. Do you feel you can pick up right where you left off even after a couple days?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: I think I'm going to come out feeling a little bit better. I know it's been a few stressful days, but I think I'm going to come out feeling good.

Q. You started your career here with Cleveland and then just how do you think back on your time here and do you find anything fun about playing them now in the playoffs?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: It's incredible coming back here. They're the team that gave me the opportunity. I was able to make my debut here. So it feels really good to come back here and be able to share this moment.

Q. What does it mean for you guys to have Tyler Glasnow back pitching in the rotation in the playoffs?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: He's good. I think he's going to be one of the bigger pieces. In the last year he lost some time and he was supposed to hopefully be a big key in the playoffs and I think we could have gone further if he was there. But I think he's going to be a big piece on this team.

Q. Are you at all surprised about how good he's looked coming off Tommy John surgery this soon?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: No. I saw him throughout his rehab and his training and everything and it doesn't surprise me that he's going to come back really good.

Q. What time did you have to set your alarm for this morning and how weird is it to be playing this early?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: I set my alarm for 7:45 so I was able give myself some time for the bus.

Q. Kind of weird, though, to be here this early?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: Yeah, a little bit. During the season you never have games this early. Maybe one or two games, but that's it.

Q. Probably got more sleep here at the hotel than you would have back at home anyway, right?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: Yeah, I slept a lot more. I got in, I fell asleep, and I was able to sleep a lot more than when I was at home.

Q. Wander was talking about the different guys from Baní area that are in the playoffs now. Do you take some pride in that too to have a bunch of guys from that area?

FRANCISCO MEJÍA: It's good to see people coming out. I think José Ramírez is also from there, so it's really good to see these guys in the playoffs.