WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - MEXICO VS CANADA

March 15, 2023

Rowdy Tellez

Randy Arozarena

Chase Field

Team Mexico

Postgame Press Conference

Mexico - 10, Canada - 3

Q. Randy, after the bases-clearing double, fans were chanting your name. What did it mean to have the fans embrace you in that moment, your adopted country?

RANDY AROZARENA: I feel very happy. The fans make me happy every time they clap for me, every time they chant my name and everything I do. I try to do it at 100 percent in the field and that they feel represented by me. It makes me play 100 percent of my capacity.

Q. How much does this mean to you, playing like you did, performing like you did in a big game like this, to get Mexico to the quarterfinals?

RANDY AROZARENA: It feels good. It feels beautiful. Also I'm very grateful because they gave me the opportunity and they trusted me to help them. And thank God with the work that I've been doing today I've been able to help them and help them win games.

And I'm very happy with the job that I'm doing and the jobs of all my -- we are in an excellent physical state, mentally we're good. We won today. And we were able to advance to the next round.

Q. Randy, are you getting used to (indiscernible) records? Today you did another one. Nine home runs. No other Mexicans have ever produced nine runs in won tournament. Jorge (indiscernible) did it in six games. You did it in three. What does it signify for you when you know now that you're beating records, not only for a team but for a national team?

RANDY AROZARENA: I'm very happy with myself, with the position I've been having to get here. I don't play to break records, but to help the team. And the records will come by themselves if I just do my best in the field.

Thank God I've been able to break these records. But I never think about these. And I don't even know what record there is. Only Christ knows.

Q. You are a great figure in all the games. Does this signify that the pitching, it was a little bit lower level or that you are -- is the pitching good, or do you think that they were on a good streak, and the hits that you've been having is just because of your ability?

RANDY AROZARENA: No, the pitching is never bad. All the representatives of each team, they're the best that they have. They try to do the best they can to come to a tournament like this.

But I always just try to do the best that I can and every pitcher does the same. And that's the game. Some lose, some win. And I try to prepare myself to hit, and they always prepare to try to dominate me.

And that's the same I've always going to be seeing. Thank God I've been doing things well. But this Classic has been incredible. They're all in the big leagues and they're the best of the nation.

Q. Randy, when was the last time if ever you've signed autographs during a pitching change? And, Rowdy, did you see that?

RANDY AROZARENA: Like in the double inning?

ROWDY TELLEZ: I saw him. It was a giant glove. They keep asking me about it, but I just tell them it's Randy. He's got his boots on. He's just Randy Arozarena.

Q. Rowdy, how do you feel to have your first home run with Mexico? And with the people how you're relating to that connection, with now representing Mexico in an event like this, very important, and now you'll be able to go to quarterfinals?

RANDY AROZARENA: It's been very special. My family is from Mexico. It's an honor to represent Mexico. It's an honor to put on the jersey every day. But it's a very special time and they're a very prideful country.

And it's really exciting to be able to be a part of playing for this country.

Q. Rowdy, yesterday you did good hitting. You hit, excellent, very fast. You were playing your timing and finding the pitches. Now you have a home run. Are you trying to find your timing that you want?

ROWDY TELLEZ: I felt good all tournament, outside of game one. Just being a little excited. But I felt good all tournament, been hitting the ball hard, hitting it well and putting together good at-bats. I think everything is coming to, and I'm excited for the next round.

Q. Rowdy, you've talked many times about how proud you are to represent Mexico. But number one, to be able to do what you've done at the plate, in addition to just put the uniform on, what does that mean to you? Number two, can you share any reactions, any enjoyment that your family -- I know they've been here -- have gotten out of seeing you do what you've done at the plate?

ROWDY TELLEZ: Again, it's just special. It's cool to be able to wear Mexico across the front, have my name across the back and be a part of this team. They called me and I immediately said, yes, I wanted to play for them.

And then for my family, it's just special. We came across in like the '30s, '40s. And it's been a really special moment for all of us, for my whole family to watch.

My dad is here. I've got family here. And it's just really special for all of them to be a part of the success that the team is having. It's very personal. It's very emotional for them. It's just cool to be able to represent my own family.

Q. Is it special to have a group with all the national team? What place in your trajectory as a professional baseball player does this Classic have in your career?

ROWDY TELLEZ: It's been really special. Like I said, beating USA was a crazy moment. Never played in an environment like that. I've played in playoff games. But beating USA was probably the most electric atmosphere I've ever played in. And it was just really cool, really special to be a part of.

And to watch Joey do what he did and set the tempo early, it was huge. And the rest of us followed suit.

And we played great this whole tournament. We may have let some people down with losing to Colombia, but we didn't let that hold us back, and we ended up going 3-0 after that. And here we are in first place in the bracket and moving forward.

Q. Randy, it's been since yesterday that we talked about it, and you said that you and all your team they visualize themselves not only in the second round but also in the final like your manager has said.

RANDY AROZARENA: Yes, we are always thinking of the finals, but in order to get to the finals, we have to go game by game. So the next game is the most important game we have. It will either be either Puerto Rico or the Dominicans, we still have to face this game and everybody's good to do the best of themselves in that game because that's the most important game that we have in this Classic.

Q. Rowdy, what has it meant to you to watch Randy have the performance he's had, and how much does he mean to this Mexico team?

RANDY AROZARENA: I watched him play a lot. Watched him take a lot of hits away and hit a lot of home runs, watch him play great baseball. To finally be on the same team with him is fun.

But he's an electric player. He's a really good player. He's an All-Star-caliber player. And to watch him do what he does is just special. And the more he gets on, the more I get to drive runs in.

So I'm just happy to be hitting behind him, happy to be his teammate, proud to be his teammate, he's a great guy, same guy every day. And it's just a good group of guys here and he's just another one of those guys, just a good teammate every day.