WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - CZECH REPUBLIC VS CHINA

March 10, 2023

Marek Chlup

Tokyo Dome

Team Czechia

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Finally you have the opening game. What's in your mind?

MAREK CHLUP: I am so excited for today's game for the qualifying game. We have been prepared for today's game, so we are ready to show what we can do for today.

Q. Finally you've have the first game in the WBC 2023. Are you a bit nervous or are you excited which feeling is stronger? And also, did you have a good sleep last night?

MAREK CHLUP: Well, I'm not so nervous. Everybody is looking for us. Today's content, it's pretty much the same as the previous baseball game. The field is the same. But once the game starts, we have confidence that we can play our usual baseball game.

Q. Did you have a good sleep last night?

MAREK CHLUP: Me personally, yes, I slept well. I had a long sleep. Woke up a bit early but I had enough rest, so I'm ready.

Q. A couple of the players went surfing at Miyazaki. What was the most impacted story you had here in Tokyo, Japan stay?

MAREK CHLUP: Well, yes, me and my teammates, be everybody, we're enjoying the Japanese stay, the time in Japan. Whenever we have free time, we take a walk, go out. At Miyazaki, some players swam. Japan is such a wonderful country. And also, we are so happy that everybody can play together as one team.

Q. So you guys have been getting a lot of attention, you've been doing great this year with north Greenville. You've been on MLB Network -- sorry about that, and what is it that like for Czech baseball and what has the reaction been from friends and family back home?

MAREK CHLUP: I feel great support from my teammates from the states or even from Czech baseball. I feel that we have a great responsibility here to represent our country, and Czech baseball and show the world that we can compete against the best. So it's a great honor to represent our country, and I feel like our whole team feels that way.

Q. I heard that you went to college in the U.S. What was the moment you decided to play baseball in the U.S., and tell us your college's name, please.

MAREK CHLUP: Well, I am studying at North Greenfield College. This is my fourth year. Ever since I graduated high school, my ambition is playing baseball, and to have my dream come true, the best option is going to the States. That's why I took my journey to the States.