AL DIVISION SERIES: RANGERS VS ORIOLES

October 8, 2023

Anthony Santander

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Baltimore Orioles

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. This team's been really good at shaking off losses and moving forward. Do you feel like that's the same attitude this morning. Do you sense the guys are already past Game 1 and thinking about this one?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: Yeah, absolutely. That's what's defined us all year. That's who we've been all year. We've been able to bounce back from those games. And we're already past what happened yesterday. We came back today and we're ready to go and we're ready to give it all we have today?

Q. Even during those losing seasons that you guys did a good job of not letting one loss bleed into the next? What allowed that as you guys went into that rebuild?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: Well, I think, not sure I understand the question a hundred percent, even in Spanish, but I would say that it can be pretty difficult, but I think we always have that mentality to give a hundred percent. And I think that's what we've been trying to do, come back and bounce back and do the best we can every single day we're out here.

Q. What was it like for you to play in that playoff atmosphere? Was it everything you thought it would be?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: I think the crowd was electric and they were sure giving us a hundred percent. And I just hope that they come back out today and can do it all over again and give us their full support once again.

Q. You played for Brandon Hyde when you guys weren't winning a lot of games. How is he different now that you're winning all these games and you're here under the pressure of the postseason?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: Well, yeah, he's been through some difficult moments with us. But I think the biggest thing is that he's been able to maintain the great atmosphere with this team and great team chemistry. I think his support means a lot to us, and he's been able to support us and keep us going through every step of this rebuild.

Q. How much does Baltimore feel like a home to you now and how much do you appreciate having this opportunity for this city and with these teammates?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: Well, I'm really happy and I'm really happy to be here through the end of this rebuild process. And I'm really proud of this team and organization that we're able to be here in this moment in this situation right now, and I'm just hoping to be able to enjoy it.

Q. You guys needed some time off, a long season, but there can be a fine line between rest and rust. Do you think those five days off affected you?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: Well, I don't think so. I think during those off-days, we really put in a lot of hard work and we gave a hundred percent energy, treated it just like a gam. What happened yesterday is just part of baseball sometimes. It didn't go our way. But that's why we'll come back today and give it a hundred percent.

Q. You're 5 for 15, hitting .333 off Jordan Montgomery in your career. How do you approach postseason at-bats against him?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: Well, it's been a while since I faced him, but he's a really good pitcher. He likes to mix-up his pitches a decent amount. You have to see how he comes out in the first inning and key in on looking for something in the strike zone today.

Q. Looking at your season, did you progress and build off of last year the way that you were hoping that you would?

ANTHONY SANTANDER: Well, how I wanted to, I would say not really. But I still do think that I progressed a lot in comparison to last year. This is a game of adjustments, so it's just going to be a matter of continuing to adjust the entire way through.