AL DIVISION SERIES: MARINERS VS ASTROS

October 11, 2022

Yordan Alvarez

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 1 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Yordan.

Q. How does it feel to be back in the postseason?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: Obviously these are the moments that we live for. Halfway through the season we saw that we might have an opportunity to be here and, you know, always super excited, especially because we do have a chance to win another championship.

Q. It wasn't that long ago that you were playing in your postseason. For all the guys on your team who haven't done this before, is there anything that you're saying to them to kind of get them ready for this?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: We've definitely spoken to a lot of the guys, but we've told them, just like in the regular season, it's the same ball game. The only thing, you're probably going to hear a little bit more noise because of the fans, but just continue to play the same game, stay focused. The goal is the same, which is to win, but just be prepared for more noise.

Q. It's your parents' first time being able to see you play in the postseason. What does that mean for you and your family?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: It means a lot. We were speaking about it yesterday, just everything that's going on, you're going to see a lot more fans, a lot more noise. Definitely it does mean a lot to have 'em here.

Q. How is your ankle and has that limited you any the last few days?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: Yeah, it hasn't limited me at all. We've been working really hard just to be here at a hundred percent, been working with a lot of the training staff. I think the training staff has done a great job to be able to get me here. I feel great.

Q. As someone that came up and succeeded as a rookie very quickly what have your impressions been of Julio Rodríguez on the other side and how well he's played in his first season in the big leagues?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: Yeah, Julio is a great ballplayer. I've known him for a long time. I've known him even before I signed back in the Dominican Republic when he was in academies, just working out, trying to sign as well.

He's a guy that goes out there, gives it his all every single time. Goes out there, tries to win, and I think he has a lot of responsibility with his team and I think he's going to go out there as well and give it his all.

Q. This is now your third time in the playoffs. How do you think you've grown as a hitter compared to your first playoffs in 2019?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: I think I've grown a lot as a player, as a hitter. I think that first year when I came to the majors, I was in the Major Leagues for three months, made it to the postseason, got a chance to play in the World Series, and that experience for me was very big, just having that exposure.

I think it's something now that, being able to go back to the postseason I can say to myself, okay, I know what the experience is like. I know what the environment's going to be like. I don't feel as much pressure as I did that first time I came up.

Q. José Altuve applauded your defense and your base running. Thoughts about that?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: Yeah, that's something that we spoke about in the past. I think throughout the whole season I've shown the ability that I can play in the outfield and that's just something that we've been working on throughout the whole year, just to be able to be able to do this. I think that I've gained the confidence and the trust of our manager to be able to play out there every day.

Q. Talk about the Mariners, a team that you know so well, just playing them so many times. And then also the confidence that your starters give the team.

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: The Mariners, obviously we can see they're a very good team. I think they come very motivated, especially being out of the postseason for so many years. But I think we're going to see, we're going to decide on the field.

Our starters obviously give us a lot of confidence that they go out there every single time, pitch, and it always gives us a chance to win.

Q. You were speaking of your defense. Have you talked to Dusty about how much left field you're going to play, and what would you like to do in the postseason more?

YORDAN ÁLVAREZ: No, we haven't spoken about that. As a manager that's his decision to make. But for me, I just have to be ready, be prepared to play wherever I'm asked to play.