WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 2 - PUERTO RICO VS MEXICO

March 16, 2023

Yadier Molina

LoanDepot Park

Team Puerto Rico

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Yadi.

Q. We would like to speak about the quarterfinals, about winning the championship, etcetera. But now, we have to start when you met today about Sugar, about the surgery, and that probably he could miss the 2023 season. Do you have a reaction to that, please?

YADIER MOLINA: Good afternoon. It was a very sad piece of news for all of us. Sugar is a great human being, a hard working person, a good teammate, and with this injury, I mean, it's very sad for the baseball, for the Puerto Ricans. We wish him the best of luck, a fast recuperation, rehabilitation. We are praying for him. I know that he will come back very strong from that surgery.

Q. There's been a lot of criticism out there with the World Baseball Classic and injuries and so on. Can you explain to people what the World Baseball Classic means to the players, particularly to someone like you who has been in both sides as an on the field and also as a manager, and your take maybe on these kinds of injuries happening in this tournaments?

YADIER MOLINA: Injuries are going to happen. You could be in your home and you could get hurt doing whatever you're doing. It's part of baseball, injuries. This tournament for us it means a lot, you know, to play for your country, in my case, to play for Puerto Rico, be a coach now, I mean, to have a bunch of fans on the stands supporting you. It's just a great tournament for us.

Q. Yesterday, you did something, when Edwin Díaz fell to the ground, you took care of his brother when you saw him cry. You were a manager, you were a mentor, you were a father. What did you feel at that time?

YADIER MOLINA: I have siblings and I have been through that, you know. When my brothers or sisters had accidents on the field, you take it very personal, you know. I felt his pain and I tried to be there for him to support him so that he knows that he can count on us. Like I said, it's a very sad injury for all of us. He is in pain, but we are there for him.

Q. The emotional burden, right, of the game could have an impact on the players. For example, Martín squeezing on the first base to connect a hit, Lindor running around the bases, that kind of injury could have an impact on the motivation of the players to give everything for Puerto Rico. No. 2, Alexis was emotionally affected with his brother's situation. Could he be emotionally prepared to play again?

YADIER MOLINA: Every player is different, of course. But we are all professionals. That's number one, we are professionals. Every time we go out to the field, we're going to do our best. Every player has his own thoughts on the way to take care of himself. We are professionals and we are going to do our best all the time.

Speaking of Alexis, I believe that he will be ready. Yesterday evening was a very hard evening for him and his family, but he's a professional and I think he will be okay.

Q. Any player that is not in Miami will replace Sugar Díaz, someone is going to join the team? And also the closing pitcher, have you decided yet who will be that closing pitcher?

YADIER MOLINA: To be honest, we are in the process to get another player to replace Edwin. Speaking of the closing pitcher, well, we have several options. It all depends on the situation of the game. But we have very good games. Underwood, Alexis, could be a closing pitcher, among others. It just depends on the game.

Q. How was this week for you as a Puerto Rican manager? What have you learned about yourself and how do you consider as a manager of this team?

YADIER MOLINA: I don't know, it's been a very fun week. We had a great time. We have a team of boys. We are like a family and we get along. Of course we won games and of course things are much better. It's been so good so far.

Q. What would you say to those people that are criticizing the participation of the players in the World Classic and what it means to all the players from all the countries, what it means to defend your country? There's some criticism saying that, well, they cannot take those risks, they could miss a season, like was the case of Díaz.

YADIER MOLINA: Well, everyone makes their own decision. I've been involved in four World Baseball Classics as a player and now as a manager. I love being here. It's great. It's a family. But every player and every coach is going to make his own decision to participate or not.

Q. Would you consider Lugo, for example, that can be both starting pitcher or a reliever, or maybe Carlos Correa or Miranda or Edwin Ríos to take this position, to be a replacement?

YADIER MOLINA: It should be a pitcher with a pitcher. The pitcher should be replaced with a pitcher, according to the rules. Yes, we're negotiating, we're trying to get a new pitcher to replace Edwin. As soon as we know the name, we'll let you know.

Q. The mood went from 100 to zero during the celebration. How important was it having this day off so that the guys eat up that impact and come back today to the field and get focused again?

YADIER MOLINA: Yeah, just like you said, the mood was very high and then after the incident with Sugar, it was very, very sad. All the guys were affected, emotionally affected. And, yes, this day is going to help us prepare better versus Mexico. I'm very happy because of this day. We really needed it.

Q. A follow-up question. Can you share your working plan for Mexico?

YADIER MOLINA: Stroman is going to start, and that's it. (Laughing.) I'm not going to say anything else. But Stroman is going to be starting pitcher and then according to the game we're going to choose the relievers.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you.