WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 2 - PUERTO RICO VS MEXICO

March 16, 2023

Javier Baez

LoanDepot Park

Team Puerto Rico

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: First question?

Q. First of all, we have to speak about a serious topic before speaking about Mexico. Can you tell us about the emotions on the field after Sugar's incident? How are you feeling with this loss? The U.S. Majors players, there is a lot of criticism because of the World Baseball Classic taking into account that kind of injury. Can you comment on this, please?

JAVIER BÁEZ: Well, first of all, no matter whether we are Major Leaguers or Minor Leaguers or if we are not signed, it's a dream for to us represent our country, right, and do our best for them and for the youth. We are trying to give the best possible example for the youngsters.

Sugar will be one of the engines of our team. Something very sad happened to all of us, but we know that Sugar is a warrior. We know everything that he's been through, all the efforts he has made to come here. We wish him the best of luck and blessings so that he comes back soon.

We were very excited. We won one of the most important games in the tournament. We couldn't celebrate the way we wanted. We were just thinking about Sugar. He was very brave. He's got balls to motivate his team and to talk to us. Even when he is no longer with us in the tournament. We all know his numbers. We wish him the best luck so that he can come back to the season.

Q. Have you had time to recover and to be focused on baseball for Friday? Do you think there will be time in order to digest everything that happened and to be focused again and that you have to complete the job that was not done in 2013 and 2017?

JAVIER BÁEZ: Sugar is going through one of the worst moments in his career; however, he gave us a great message in the clubhouse. I told him, You are a warrior. We know what we have to go through to make it here, not only Puerto Ricans, but also all the Latinos. We have to face many difficulties to come here and to be on the right path.

Sugar is aware of that. He has great numbers. He has a contract for a reason, right? The motivation is here with us. We want to win this for our island and now for Sugar.

Q. Can you give us some details about this motivation training provided by Sugar yesterday night, or today? And when you see that kind of injury, are you going to do all the best like you have done now?

JAVIER BÁEZ: Everything happens for a purpose. It's God's will. We were in the locker room waiting for the results. He wanted to come into the clubhouse and talk to us to let us know that he would be there paying attention to our game and that we would be there for him as well.

It's unexpected. Anyone can get an injury at any time. We have seen in the past several players that got injured like that, celebrating, you know, things that are out of your control. Yeah, we should be careful when we celebrate, but in that moment, you just feel happiness and motivation, things that you cannot control.

Q. What can you tell us about Mexico? It was the winner of Group C. What have you seen? And how was it for you having Yadier Molina as the manager?

JAVIER BÁEZ: Actually, we haven't seen Mexico. We saw them a little bit when they played Team USA. Baseball is unpredictable, you know. No matter how many stars you have on the roster if they're not together, if they cannot play as teammates, it's going to be difficult to win this kind of tournament that is so short.

We do have talent, we have many Major League players, but we are a family. This is not a team. This goes beyond a team. We are like a family. We support each other, we defend one another, because we're playing for our families and for our country and this is the most important thing.

Q. What happened with Sugar yesterday, it's another motivation for you to give everything on the field and win it for him?

JAVIER BÁEZ: Yes, exactly. I don't know how to explain how the mood is in the clubhouse, you know? We are super motivated because we won the game. Sugar supported us and we have to play inning after inning, pitch after pitch. Anything could happen in the second round. We have to be together, united, and to play the best possible baseball.

Q. Kiké was speaking about Edwin's injury and he said that he was greater than his bank account because he was a leader. What part of Edwin that we don't know? Can you tell us a little bit about Edwin as a teammate, as a human being?

JAVIER BÁEZ: There are many kinds of leaders. Edwin is a closing pitcher. We only see him at the end of the game. But the way he sees the game, the numbers he has and having a working plan on the game and on the team, is huge. He knows what he's doing. He knows what to do to help his team.

When he's not on the field, he does that. And I learned a lot from him, from Lindor, from all the guys that know about the numbers of the game. We want to bring it to a higher level and he's been a leader.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.