WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL A - CUBA VS PANAMA

March 10, 2023

Christian Bethancourt

Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium

Team Panama

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Asked Luis about this, but coming into this game, obviously it's a big game against Cuba, a must-win for you guys. What's the feeling long amongst your teammates, with you, in the clubhouse and the locker room coming into this big game?

CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT: Our mentality right now is win or win. We've got to go out there and we've got to compete. We've got to do our best on the field to get the win. We know it's going to be a tough game.

We were watching Cuba's game last night. They are a really good team. They are a tough team to beat, and we are going to do our best on the field to get that win today for us.

Q. We all know that you were in the KBO before and you went back to MLB last year, and right now you have a chance to get another win for your nation. How do you describe this feeling?

CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT: Can you repeat the question?

Q. How do you describe this feeling right now? Coming back through all of this and right now you have a chance to make your country and your nation proud.

CHRISTIAN BETHANCOURT: Yeah, I mean playing for our country is probably the best feeling we can have. Doesn't matter what country you're playing for; if you're playing for your country, it's going to be very meaningful for you, you know, just representing your country. You are also representing yourself and your family. We take that with a lot of pride, and as you can see in the first two games, we've been going out there and competing and playing for our country, our family, and today is not going to be an exception.