AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: YANKEES VS ASTROS

October 19, 2022

Jeremy Peña

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Houston Astros - 4, New York Yankees - 2

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions for Jeremy Peña.

Q. You tied the record for rookies hitting extra base hits in the postseason. The first since Carlos Correa in 2015. What do you think about that?

JEREMY PEÑA: I did not know that. That's pretty cool.

Q. Can you elaborate on that a little bit? How special it is?

JEREMY PEÑA: Like I said, I didn't know about that. But it's a special moment, for sure. I'm glad we got the win and we're going to show up tomorrow.

Q. With Altuve struggling, they're pitching around Yordan, some other guys have had to step up in the lineup. Do you guys feel that maybe the depth of this lineup had something to prove a little bit when people were talking about three or four guys in the middle of the lineup sort of being the bell cows of this offense?

JEREMY PEÑA: I would say that's what makes us so good. We pick each other up on any given night. Sometimes when we don't put together quality at-bats our pitchers carry us. And when they don't have their day on the mound we carry them with the lineup. As I said, that's what makes us a great team.

Q. We've talked about that adjustment you made with your front foot in September and you've really taken off since. What is different? Like how are you different at the plate now that you're able to get your front foot down quicker and what has that done for you?

JEREMY PEÑA: So having the foot on the ground early is just eliminating a step in my swing. I felt like before I was trying to read the pitch as my leg was in the air. And then when I told myself to swing, then I had to find the ground and then start to swing.

But having the foot down early is just eliminating that step and now I have more time to make my decision.

Q. What do you think has been the biggest key to you being able to find such big success as a rookie in the playoffs?

JEREMY PEÑA: Just trying to put together good at-bats. Trying to get good pitches to hit, get in good counts. These guys show up every single day and they come up with a plan. And, yeah, it's easy to, I guess, go out and compete when you have guys that have done it for so long. These guys have done it year-in, year-out. It's just fun to be a part of it.

Q. You seem to have a very even-keel nature both on the field, off the field. Where does that come from? Is there anyone that helped you develop that? Why is that?

JEREMY PEÑA: So that's something I've developed over the years. I haven't always been like this. But I feel like when you start maturing in this game you have to keep the same level of level headed, you know, good games, bad games, flush it. That's the beauty of this game. You have a bad game -- and we play 162 games, so we show up tomorrow. If you have a good game, you have to bring yourself back to performance head, you know, level headed.

Q. How much does it help with the bottom of the order hitting, with guys like Martín and Chas and Yuli, especially Yuli and Chas hitting the home runs tonight?

JEREMY PEÑA: Like I said, 1 through 9 in our lineup could be the game winners any given day. It doesn't matter who it is. Our lineup is deep and anybody could be the hero any given day.

Q. I know that you know you're a rookie, but Dusty talks about how you show up, you're quiet like a rookie, but you don't act like one. How do you feel? Because you're surrounded by so many veterans that you say have so much talent. Can you put that in kind of perspective?

JEREMY PEÑA: Like I said, these guys have taken me in since the first day. I've learned so much from them. They show up, put the work in, go out and compete and do it again the next day. I gravitate towards that. That's what I try to do. Just try to keep improving and just keep playing hard.

Q. Chas talked to us about the rewarding moment of rounding third and then making eye contact with guys in the dugout that he thinks so much of. Big smile. So you obviously think so much of your veteran teammates. What is it like when you round third and can see them just going absolutely wild for something you've done to help this team win this game?

JEREMY PEÑA: Right. So the goal is to obviously win the game. That's the most important part of it all. So when you get to contribute a little bit and you kind of just take that moment in and have fun with the guys. And the same with them. I feel like everyone just roots for each other on this team. That's the chemistry we've built here.

Q. You've only had four games of postseason experience. Seems like you're just cool, calm and collected in those moments. What allows you and enables you to kind of just drown out the pressure and just go play, despite the stage being as grand as it is right now?

JEREMY PEÑA: I say the biggest thing is the confidence my teammates give me. They give me so much advice. They just tell me to go out and play. Have fun, play the game hard, do what you've been doing all year. That's what I try to do. I try to stay calm, in the moment and compete.

Q. Question in Spanish.)

JEREMY PEÑA: So, yeah, these guys have been great, like I said. They show up every single day. They put the work in. You gravitate towards that. You want to be a part of it. So you gravitate towards their work. They're hungry. They have been here for so many years, but they still act like it's their first time. They're still hungry in that sense. And we have a special team and I think we're going to have a special run.