WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - COLOMBIA VS MEXICO

March 11, 2023

Reynaldo Rodriguez

Chase Field

Team Colombia

Postgame Press Conference

Colombia - 5, Mexico - 4 (10)

Q. You are a big figure in Mexico, and now you damaged them. How do you see this situation?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity. And nothing. You have said it. I'm grateful for Mexico because I am on their team in the summer and winter. We had a good start today.

I have two hearts. My heart's in Mexico and in Colombia. And then at the end of the day the result was positive. I'm very happy.

What else? To start with, happiness, since we started with the right foot this Classic. Tomorrow we're off and then we're thinking about Great Britain.

Q. It was awesome that you came because whatever you gave us today, you gave a lot to Colombia. You showed up basically the victory of Colombia because of you. Can you please tell the Colombians about the win today?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: Julio Urias' opener, he showed his repertoire a lot in the first inning. And in the second inning we made adjustments with my teammate Alfaro, he started the rally.

And then we have the little mistakes that he had. At that moment we took advantage of that. Then we went up in that inning. After that they fell behind, but nothing.

It was a great game. Both teams, they both did the best that each could have. But like I said, at the end of the day it was for Colombia and I'm grateful to God and it's a win for our family.

Q. Julio Urias, four perfect innings up three runs. What changed in the fifth inning?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: Like I just told you right now, I think the opener, Julio, he showed his repertoire early, and we were able to make the adjustments second round. And like I tell you right now, we made -- those mistakes that he made and that's when the game changed.

Q. You're one of the older players with Colombia; you've been around for a little bit. What do you make of the rise of talent and the talent that you guys have now to beat a team like Mexico, where maybe a few years ago you didn't quite have that?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: What can I tell you? This is my second Classic. And the first one we had that bad taste in the mouth after that game with the Dominican team.

If you have seen, the Colombian team had a lot of young people, every other baseball player like me, a veteran, but that teammate that they have now that Colombia brought compared with other tournaments, they have already been risen up with this quality that they have now, the baseball players they have now.

These boys have a lot of cold blood. It was good what we are showing from Colombia in this Classic. I'm grateful for God.

Q. Colombians are happy. I wanted your impression, you started at the roster of Colombia at the end because of an accident, because all world they were asking for Reynaldo Rodriguez. And today, you become the MVP with three hits and one home run and three RBIs. What's your sensation about having this situation that occurred? And at first why would you not kind of come at first?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: All I can say is that at first I had a lot of accidents, injuries. And (indiscernible) and then I went to Cancun and then I went to Mexicali. I wasn't at the winter series because my daughter was born.

But I'm a little bit sad because of my family, they're in Colombia. But that was one of the reasons. I have three kids, three children, and I haven't been able to enjoy them.

But I appreciate the time that I am with my family. So I got the call on Saturday and then I opted for accepting the call to come represent my country, the colors of my land. And what can I say, I'm grateful, I'm grateful, 100 percent happy.

And then one of the reasons that I accepted because of the birth of my daughter. But I haven't been able to enjoy it but I'm here again.

Q. After the answer that you just, I can see you got teary. That emotion is what you enjoyed today and what you've been going throughout days since your daughter was born.

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: You have said it all. Being a father is something beautiful in our lives. So it was a girl that was dreamed about because we tried for a couple of years. We tried a couple years since we had her.

But thankful that we had the opportunity to have Genesis Lucia (phonetic), that's my daughter. But I'm emotional. This is for God and for my family. And I'm grateful for all that Colombian fans that were here at Chase Field.

Q. And the game, I'm going to ask you what did you feel changed when you could see Mexicans, that they were silent when you were at-bat every turn. That it was like they got a cold shower. And then after the home run it was even more.

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: I had my first year in 2015. I've been five years in Mexican territory. So I've got to know them since I've been there. I've been very productive. And I have gained that respect from the fans.

For now I am very respectful for Mexico. It was an excellent game. What can I say? I wish them a lot of -- I wish them the best of the teams that are in this group and I'm grateful for the victory of Colombia.

Q. What can a win like today in such an exciting game do for the sport of baseball in Colombia?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: I am very happy, very ecstatic. After not coming to my country for a while, this is my second Classic. Start with the right foot after the Mexican team, facing the best of the best, and facing a pitcher like Julio Urias, it's for me it's marvelous in baseball. I'm grateful and very happy.

Q. Yesterday, I was able to talk to you. I want to ask you and the message for your daughter in the future when she sees it she'll be able to remember. When you thought about, what was going on in your mind when you saw at-bat? You said that Julio was showing his pitching. What was going through your brain and then send a message for your family and daughter, obviously for when your daughter is older. Do you dedicate the home run for her?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: At the moment that I accepted to come and represent Colombia in the Classic, I spent three days watching videos of Urias. I had a thought, I had an image of how he was going to attack.

If you notice, like I just said, he was able to win against (inaudible), but then we made the adjustment in the second round. And then I was just there searching for the pitches.

That zone where he tacked me, it's my strength and my strongest area. I had a good swing, I was able to connect and I flipped the game.

But I am very happy, I'm very happy. Facing Julio Urias is -- the magnitude of pitcher, I'm very grateful, very happy. He sent his greetings from the dugout. I wish him the best. And I'll bless him for the rest of 2023 and the big leagues.

And like you said, this is for God, for my family, and you have seen this is from the heart for my two kids, my two boys and also for my wife.

Q. Did you dream it and you managed to get this home run is the best home run in your life?

REYNALDO RODRIGUEZ: Yes, 100 percent.