MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 5, 2022

Jeremy Peña

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Postgame 6 Press Conference

Houston Astros - 4, Philadelphia Phillies - 1

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with questions for the World Series MVP, Jeremy Peña.

Q. The confidence and the comfort you've shown throughout this postseason, where does that come from? Does that come from following your dad around? Where does that come from?

JEREMY PEÑA: Man, where do I even start? It has a lot to do with my family, my upbringing. Shoutout to my teammates as well. They took me in since day one. They gave me the confidence to just go out and play my game and, yeah, shoutout to them, man. This is special.

Q. When you got this opportunity to be the starting shortstop for the Astros, what was the biggest challenge in replacing a guy like Correa? And how did these guys help you relax and be yourself?

JEREMY PEÑA: I'd say the hardest part was just blocking everything that's not part of the game. There's a saying that you can't sink a ship with water around. It sinks if water gets inside. So I just try to stay strong and keep the water outside my head.

So, yeah, just keep playing my game, show up every single day, and just trust in my preparation.

Q. We think of you as being new to this organization because you're new at the Major League level, but you've been with the Astros for awhile in the minor leagues. What have you sort of seen at the lower levels that is also here at the Major League level that allows the team to be so good?

JEREMY PEÑA: Since my first pro ball team, short season A, Tri-City ValleyCats, managed by Jason Bell, we had a winning culture since day one. We won the championship that year and that was the expectation every single year. And I'd say that's the culture we built here in the organization. It doesn't matter what level, we expect to develop you and at the same time we're going to win games.

Q. You got the flag there. How good does it feel to represent your nation in a win like this?

JEREMY PEÑA: Man, it's special. Man, I can't even put it into words right now, but shoutout to my Dominican people.

(Speaking in Spanish.)

Q. Dusty's been managing since before you were born. This is his first World Series. What has he done for you, you specifically, and also just for this team here that you've seen this year? And how badly did you want to win this for him as well?

JEREMY PEÑA: I mean, it's special, for sure. Dusty Baker's a legend in the sport. Not just because he's been around. He's had success at this game. He brings the best out of his players. He gives you the confidence to just go out and play hard and let the game take care of itself. You can't ask more of a manager. He brings out the best of you. And he took me in since day one and for this to be his first World Series championship it's special to be a part of it.

Q. Can you take us through that 6th inning with your base hit and setting up Álvarez there?

JEREMY PEÑA: I mean, first of all, shoutout to Altuve for beating out the double play. You can't teach hustle. He's hustled all year. He leads by example, and that's something I always look up to.

Yeah, it was just pass-the-baton mentality, get on base, and let Yordan do his thing. He's done it all year. He came through for us. That's big-time.

Q. This city's known for space. It sort of seemed like a moonshot that Yordan hit, when he hit the ball. I mean, was there any doubt? He's done it before, but what was going through your mind once you saw it?

JEREMY PEÑA: Man, that ball was hit hard. I've never seen anything like it. And if I have seen it, it probably came from him as well. So shoutout to him. He's a strong boy. But he's a great hitter. We're glad he had the special season he had this year.

Q. Your season seemed to change when Dusty put you in the No. 2 hole. Talk about that and your adjustment in that spot and how it helped you finish strong like did you.

JEREMY PEÑA: So like I said, him putting me in the second in the lineup that just tells you he had confidence in me to get the job done. Like I said, he brings out the best of you. I felt like I appreciated that. Shout out to Jason Kanzler, our hitting coach, Troy Snitker, Alex Cintrón. We worked hard all year trying to make adjustments all season long and, yeah, shoutout to them.