WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 2 - PUERTO RICO VS MEXICO

March 17, 2023

Randy Arozarena

Isaac Peredes

Luis Urías

LoanDepot Park

Team Mexico

Postgame Press Conference

Mexico - 5, Puerto Rico - 4

THE MODERATOR: Who has the first question?

Q. First of all, congrats. Some of the social networks are saying that this Classic is just an exhibition game, that no one cares about what you are doing, what you are playing. But what can you tell these guys after beating Puerto Rico? What is the meaning of this representing your country?

RANDY AROZARENA: To me, this is a very special event. We have all the best players of each country with the best teams. It takes place every four years, and we're enjoying this a lot. This is a World Classic. We have the best players of each country here.

Q. Randy, you decided to participate from Mexico, and you are the MVP of the postseason, and you are helping this team with that major catch and now you are in the semifinals. How are you feeling today?

RANDY AROZARENA: I'm feeling very happy and enjoying the company of my teammates. I always give a hundred percent. I give everything to be able to support my team and to help my team, both in the offense and defense, and I'm feeling incredible. I'm at a great time in my career and sharing it with my teammates in this WBC makes me feel a very special person.

Q. I'd like you to say why you decided to play for Mexico. Many people are wondering that.

RANDY AROZARENA: I left Cuba -- or I escaped Cuba in 2015, and I arrived in Mexico. I had my family. I have a Mexican daughter that I love. I have played with many teammates in the Majors as well. Mexico received me as a son. I asked the fans and the president to be a Mexican citizen to represent the country in the WBC, and I have this possibility, this opportunity.

Q. What was your thought process before making that catch? You have a very important season with the Tampa Bay Rays. How important is this catch for you or is important for you? Last year was one of the best years in the Majors. What do you think happened when you joined the Tampa Bay Rays?

RANDY AROZARENA: They are different moments, total different moments. When I played with the Rays, I enjoyed the World Series, my home runs, and now I'm in the WBC and it's an incredible event. That catch, that play, helped the team. We were able to keep the game 5-4. I have been working hard and I was able to catch the ball.

Q. (No microphone.)

ISAAC PAREDES: It was a very inspiring year for me. I was playing with Detroit for three years, and I enjoyed the change. I was under pressure, yes, but I was playing on a team with many Latinos and I got confidence. It was a successful season with many, and I gained experience in this season. It was incredible.

Q. Randy, they consider you the God in Mexico, especially after making the cross. You will see the memes later. What do you think about this nickname? You drove in three important runs for Mexico. What can you say about that?

And Luis, you made your contribution to the victory. What can you say about that?

RANDY AROZARENA: Well, I'm grateful for the support of the Mexican fans, those that went to Arizona. I hadn't played with so many Mexican fans in a game and many people came to Miami. They made a great effort. It's something incredible. I have received many messages and pictures from Mexico, and the people are very happy. They put my face on bills, etcetera. I never get something like that.

LUIS URÍAS: It was a great game. We have experienced players that was able to produce runs at the right time. It was my turn today, and another day we have Randy, Joey, or others.

Q. The Dominican Republic is enjoying this because you eliminated the country that eliminated the Dominicans. So what can you tell them? On the social networks there are many memes, etcetera, celebrating Mexico's victory today.

RANDY AROZARENA: I said today, that this was a revenge. I would like to send greetings to Rodney Linares for representing us from Tampa. And yes, we beat Puerto Rico.

Q. I don't know if God -- what does it feel to know that you will never ever will pay for a beer in Mexico? Is it important for you to play against Cuba in a probable final?

RANDY AROZARENA: It's very important. Mexico never made it to a semifinal and this great team was able to do that. It's an incredible event and I'm very happy to be with them. They accepted me as a teammate and they respect me as well as I respect them. Well, we go to semifinals and we are going to have another interview for the finals, okay?

Q. Isaac, you were very timely with the bat today in this victory. What did you feel after the four runs Puerto Rico scored in the first inning and then you connected that home run. It was a message of hope that you sent to the team. What did you feel when you connected that home run?

ISAAC PAREDES: It was a difficult start for us. But we are together as a team. It was a one-run homer, the game was still open, but we had many innings to go. We were able to respond, we responded and we got the result.

Q. Randy, connecting a homer in a World Series and putting in a balance this moment, especially that spectacular catch, what was your best moment?

RANDY AROZARENA: 2023, March, WBC, 8th inning, the catch, for sure. I was able to save the advantage we had 5-4. Yes, yes, I choose the catch. We are in March.

Q. Question for Isaac. You said that you had the moment. It was your game today. Have you made any adjustments in the offense because you drove in three runs? And how about wearing the Mexican jersey?

And, Luis, how does it feel to represent Mexico?

ISAAC PAREDES: We are competing the same way, at the same level so far, ever since the WBC started. It was beautiful for me and I enjoyed it a lot. I had fun. We had many fans and we felt the support of those Mexican fans.

Q. How do you feel about wearing the Mexican jersey?

LUIS URÍAS: Very happy. Like they say before, some people are saying that the World Classic shouldn't take place, but playing for your country, wearing the Mexican uniform makes you feel better and have fun. You have seen that in the crowd, Mexican and Puerto Rican fans. It's beautiful to play before these guys. Thank God I could play, and my teammates did the job from day one, Randy, Isaac, and of course the pitchers. We're having a good streak and we're enjoying this moment.

Q. Finally you were able to speak. Now the question was for you, Luis. Seriously, this Classic didn't start for you the best possible way. Not that you needed vindication or redemption, but you decided the game for Mexico. How did you feel with this comeback in the World Classic?

LUIS URÍAS: This is baseball, you know. It's a very hard sport. Not always everything is going to go well for you, but it's worth it to fail, fail, fail until you connect a good hit. We were able to be in this situation for the next games. We're going to go all out on the field.

Q. The history of Mexico in soccer hasn't been so close of glory in years as you are now. What do you think? Baseball could be the king sport in Mexico?

ISAAC PAREDES: I don't know, as a little boy I saw the games of the Naranjeros, because I live in the north. But there is not a lot of baseball in the south of Mexico. But now that many Mexicans are watching this WBC, maybe more and more young kids are going to play baseball.

Q. Isaac, how would you describe your emotions when you were running after hitting the home run?

ISAAC PAREDES: This is a World Classic, you know, and we are representing Mexico. It's a lot of adrenaline what you feel on the field. I had never felt that adrenaline, even when I debuted in the majors. It was beautiful. But the hit in the 7th inning and Luis's hit was even better. My heart exploded.

Q. Luis and Isaac, when Randy made the catch what did you think? Did you think it was an extra base? What did you think when the guy connected the ball?

ISAAC PAREDES: I even forgot that I had to throw to the first base. To be honest, when I was covering the second base I thought that it was gone, the ball was gone. I closed my eyes. But Randy, I don't know what he did, and he made the catch. I forgot that I had to throw to the first base. It was incredible.

We had, we had the run of the tie on the first base. Randy's crazy. He can do anything in the outfield. Only he is able to do that. He said it was easy, but during the game he told me that he didn't know how he did it.