WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D - NICARAGUA VS PUERTO RICO

March 11, 2023

Yadier Molina

LoanDepot Park

Team Puerto Rico

Pregame Press Conference

Q. The 2023 World Classic is starting today. You were in the previous editions, but today it's a new start. How are you feeling, your emotions?

YADIER MOLINA: I'm very happy. I'm excited. Anxious as well. I'm a little anxious, to be honest with you, but I'm confident at the same time. We know that we are playing a very good team in Nicaragua. All the teams are good in this tournament, and we are ready for them.

But personally speaking, yes, I'm a little anxious and very happy to get started.

Q. We are very proud of you. Four World Baseball Classics, and now the fifth one as a leader. God put you in this path to lead this team to face Nicaragua today. Are you ready to get started?

YADIER MOLINA: Yes, we are ready. The players are focused, and we are very well prepared. Let's see what happens on the field.

Q. In Nicaragua, the country and the team, there's a lot of expectations to face Puerto Rico today. The guys are very excited. Your words for the team and for the people of Nicaragua?

YADIER MOLINA: Greetings. Blessings for you. We're very happy to play Nicaragua. We know your team is very good, and we respect them a lot. Let the best team win.

Q. This game is the first game for you guys. What is important to play for this game?

YADIER MOLINA: Obviously, you want to start winning. You know, Game 1 you want to start with the right foot, and that's what we're going to try to do today.

Q. Good luck today. 21 players of the team played in the little leagues in Puerto Rico, the coaching staff and yourself. Tell me about the importance of the little leagues in Puerto Rico to get to the place where you are today.

YADIER MOLINA: That's a good start. The help of the grandparents, father, mom, aunts, uncles, you name it. We have nine teams in the little leagues, and that's a very important piece for those boys to learn how to play.

What can I say? That's where you learn. That's where everything starts.

Q. What are the strengths of your team as you enter this event today?

YADIER MOLINA: I feel we got a little bit of everything. We got a little bit of pitching, hitting. We can run the bases. We can play the small ball, bunt, move guys over.

If we execute, we're going to be on the right track.

Q. All the games are important. How important is it for you to start by winning this game today?

YADIER MOLINA: That's the goal. It is important to start on the right foot and try to go forward with a victory. Like I said before, all the teams are very good, but that's the goal, right, to win today. One game at a time.

Q. Everybody Venezuela, Dominican Republic, but our team has been always very good. We made the finals in 2013. We didn't have stars. You have the support of singers, players, and the people of Puerto Rico. We are supporting you. We want the best for you. How do you feel about that?

YADIER MOLINA: Happy. We are very happy with all the support. We know that we have a huge responsibility, and we are taking this very seriously. It's a game, anything could happen, but we are prepared to represent our country the best possible way.