WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 2 - USA VS VENEZUELA

March 18, 2023

Trea Turner

Ryan Pressly

LoanDepot Park

Team USA

Postgame Press Conference

United States - 9, Venezuela - 7

THE MODERATOR: All right. We'll get started with Ryan Pressly. Who has the first question for Ryan?

Q. Just before you walked in, your manager said you pretty much faced every situation known to man. What was it like to close out this one and how concerned are you about Jose?

RYAN PRESSLY: Well, first, I'm pretty concerned about Jose. I hope everything's okay. He's a big part of our lineup in Houston. Just on top of that, he's an unbelievable teammate. So just hope everything's okay, and I'm sure I'll get the news later tonight or tomorrow morning. He's right, I pretty much pitched in every kind of situation you can imagine, except for starting. To go out there and close this game, I mean, it's special. Every time you get to put on this uniform it's special.

So I got guys like Trea behind me and some of the best defense that I've ever seen. So it's fun and it helps me relax when I go out there and pitch.

Q. Trea, what pitch were you looking at on the home run?

TREA TURNER: What pitch? Changeup. Yeah, just got a pitch in the middle of the zone and put a good swing on it. I hadn't faced him very much going into that, so didn't really know what to expect. Just tried to kind of compete up there and not try and do too much because I know I got Mookie and Mike behind me.

Q. Trea, did Jose Quijada's celebration at the end of the 7th get you guys riled up a little bit, fired up?

TREA TURNER: I think we wanted to win the game anyways, but we knew there was going to be a lot of back and forth in this game. We knew that they weren't going to like us very much and we weren't going to like them very much. At least while we're playing these nine innings.

But you got to bounce back. They did a really good job in the middle of the game scoring those runs and making it tougher. They took the lead back and we kind of had to respond as well. So I don't think there's any one thing, I think it's just a good baseball game with a lot of good players.

Q. Trea, you've worn the USA jersey before, but in quite a different environment and type of tournament. We're not through this one yet, but can you compare the two and also reflect on how that's helped you?

TREA TURNER: Yeah, I think the first two times I wore it was way different, just because we played in Cuba, Japan and Europe as well. Two of those were five-game series and then one of 'em was a tournament kind of like this. So I think each one's really special, really different. You play with a lot of different guys, you play against a lot of different competition. I know in Cuba we played a lot of their veteran players and guys that have now come over and contributed really well in the major leagues. I believe Japan was a lot more college guys when I was in college as well. So everything's different, but it's always special, it's always fun, and it's an honor for us to put on this jersey, as it is for all these countries. It's a fun way to celebrate our game.

Q. You hit the home run by bat, the game-winning home run. That was only the third grand slam in Team USA history. Do you know that?

TREA TURNER: No idea. I did not know that at all. All I care about is winning. I don't care about all those stats. I think we all came here for the same reason. I think he might have said it before I came in here, but it doesn't matter who is pitching, who is closing the game, who is hitting third, it doesn't matter. It's about winning the game. So I'm just glad we came out on top.

Q. Trea, you've been in a lot of -- same with you, Ryan, you guys have been in a lot of postseason games before. Where does this one kind of rank with the atmosphere here, crowd going crazy, and of course your moment, Trea?

RYAN PRESSLY: I mean, yeah, it's up there. This is pretty much postseason atmosphere and we're getting it right in the middle of the Spring Training. It's a great team over there and it almost makes me kind of want to go play in winter ball a little bit and see how rowdy these fans get. It looks really fun and I was glad to be a part of it.

Q. This grand slam --

THE MODERATOR: He's in the middle of an answer. Sorry, he's still talking.

TREA TURNER: Yeah, kind of what he said, is just you don't get to do this a lot, especially this early in the year, kind of having this energy in the stadium, probably the loudest game I've ever played in. We faced the Astros in 2019 in the Dome, and that kind of, I feel like, heightens everything. So today was electric and just as good as those World Series games. He's played in a few more than I have, but it's just the energy is in the stadium and we can feel it as players and I know the fans feel it as well.

Q. Turner, this grand slam against Venezuela for you, it's the most amazing moment in your career, for example, you were in the World Series Washington against Houston. What do you think about it?

TREA TURNER: Yeah, right up there. I think individually I think this is probably the biggest hit that I've had. And individually probably right up there with any hit I've ever had. But as a team I think you set a goal. And we want to win the whole thing. That's what you do as well during the regular season. Everybody wants to win the World Series. So when you kind of accomplish your goal, I think that for me is most important. And we're not done yet. This is a tough game. We're going to have tough games going forward. But like I said, I'm glad we won and we can kind of keep striving for that goal. But individually it was kind of, it was pretty big for me personally.

Q. As you were walking up to the plate for that at-bat how would you describe what was going through your head and the emotions that you were feeling on those steps leading up to the plate?

TREA TURNER: Just, I don't know, just kind of tell yourself that, you know, this is -- I don't know what the word is -- but you're good enough for this. The self talk's there. I know everybody does their own thing, but just try to compete. You don't know, I didn't know much about the pitcher throwing, so for me just try not to do too much. Like I said, I got Mookie and Trout behind me. So the lineup's crazy, it's just keep the line moving and make good decisions and just react.

Q. Trea Turner, you are a star and a good hitter. But you are the last in this lineup. What is the mentality for you to accept this role?

TREA TURNER: Yeah, I mean, that's not my job, right. So I always look at it as just kind of do your job. Whenever your name's called try to do the best you can to contribute and accomplish what your role is. So, sure, I would love to hit up in the order, but this lineup's ridiculous. I said it a little earlier, it doesn't matter if you're batting first, second, third, ninth, there's probably going to be guys on base in front of because the lineup's just so good. So I had some opportunities early in the game to kind of contribute with the guys on base and didn't get the job done. So keep your chin up, keep going and you never know when it's going to be your moment.

Q. Tomorrow's game against Cuba, what's your impression of it? Trea you already mentioned that you played before against Cuba internationally, but in general for both of you guys, what have you seen of this team during this tournament?

RYAN PRESSLY: To be honest with you I haven't really watched a whole lot of Cuba play. They were in a completely different time zone, so I guess you would only see the highlights over here. But I'm sure they're ready to get after us and we're ready to get after them. So it will be a fun exciting game for sure.

TREA TURNER: Same. Haven't watched much of the other side other than highlights here or there and it's usually just Ohtani hitting homers. So that's all I've really seen. But like you said, I played against them, I know the quality of baseball they play. Like I said, a lot of them have come over in the last 10 years or so and played really, really well. It's not going to be easy, but I think if we can play good baseball I think we can compete with anybody and it's going to be probably a lot of the same atmosphere as tonight as the next game as well.

Q. Aside from the Canada game the offense hadn't really gotten untracked. Tonight, nine runs, 14, 15 hits. Did it feel like something kind of clicked for you guys tonight and if so what was it?

TREA TURNER: I mean, I know that nobody cares because you see the names on the lineup, but we've all had 20 at-bats this year and it's so early and you're facing all-star pitching staffs. So kind of like what I keep saying is just compete and you never know when it's going to click. When it's your turn, just keep going, keep going. So, yeah, we haven't probably played as well as we could have, but that's baseball and it's not an easy tournament. It's not like we're going to walk through this thing and 10-run rule everybody. And we just, we're kind of a little lucky to keep playing and we don't take that for granted and keep grinding 'em out and try to win two more.

THE MODERATOR: Tremendous game by the U.S. and Venezuela, guys. Congratulations and we'll see you tomorrow.