AL DIVISION SERIES: TWINS VS ASTROS

October 8, 2023

Jeremy Peña

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

JEREMY PEÑA: About the roof, if being open is an advantage or how do we feel about it. I said it's the same thing. It's equal. There's no advantage. We're both playing with the roof open. Yeah, it is what it is.

Q. As an infielder, when Framber is pitching a ground ball pitcher, coming into the game, do you have to be, I don't know, on your toes a little bit more knowing that it could be a heavy action game? You did get a couple double plays yesterday, but in general with Framber getting all of those ground balls.

JEREMY PEÑA: Of course. It feels like, whenever Framber is on the mound, you're always working the whole game. You have to be on your toes. He's a ground ball pitcher. We take pride in our defense, so we need to be sharp.

Q. It's going to be cold in Minneapolis. What's the coldest game you played in at Maine? And what are the challenges of playing in the cold?

JEREMY PEÑA: Man, I think the coldest I played, it was in the 20s. It was brutal. We ended up winning that game, but it was a long, long time.

I'd say the challenge is just not giving too much thought to the cold, just focus on the game. Both teams are playing in it. You're not the only one in the cold. Just go out there and play your game.

Q. Jeremy, you've done so great coming up as a young player and adapting to your surroundings and playing well, but what's your comfort level compared to a year ago? You played so well in the post-game, but what's your comfort level now compared?

JEREMY PEÑA: I feel good. I feel like the guys have done a great job in the clubhouse of taking me in and making me feel part of the team. Since the first day last year, Spring Training, I felt like the city of Houston, the fan base, everyone has done a great job of kind of taking me in, and I really appreciate that.

It doesn't go unnoticed, and I'd say it's played a big role in my comfortability here on the team.

Q. What are those 24 or so hours in between games, how many changes can you really make between them?

JEREMY PEÑA: I try to keep my routine the same, playoffs and in season. I try to disconnect a little bit once I leave the ballpark, hang out with the family, get some good food, and then get your rest.

In the morning it's a brand-new day, and we lock in for the game at hand. I talk a lot to our players. We help each other out, and we pick each other's brains. We prepare for the game, show up, and go compete.

Q. Kind of along those lines of routine, I'm not sure if he called it a superstition, but Framber loves the blue jerseys. He says he likes the vibes. Can you relate to that? Maybe anything that you lock in on? We know about baseball players and superstitions.

JEREMY PEÑA: I mean, Framber, he loves those blue jerseys, man. One of the superstitions I have, I guess, I always step on the bag going into the field. If we're on the third base side, I step on third base going into the field. If we're on the first base side, I step on first base going into the field. I don't know if you ever noticed, but that's something I've always done.

I don't think there's meaning behind it. It doesn't give me a sense of I'm going to be a better player if I do it. It's just something I've always done.

Q. How much playoff watching are you doing right now, whether it's checking at the end of the day or scouting who you guys might play next?

JEREMY PEÑA: Not much. The focus right now is to win this series. The main goal right now is to win the ballgame at hand, and then we'll worry about whatever comes next.

But our 100 percent attention is right now this series, this game.

Q. After last night's win, you all had a young fan on the field. I wonder if you could tell me what that interaction was like and maybe what he was saying.

JEREMY PEÑA: I love Jose Altuve, man. We're doing our routine, handshake after the game, after a win, and I see this kid running towards Altuve. And I tell Altuve, be careful, be careful, he's coming. Altuve just turned around and hugged the kid, embraced it.

He got in our winning line, and he started high-fiving the players, and that was pretty cool. That was pretty cool. Hopefully Jose could talk a little bit about it, but I thought it was pretty awesome.

Q. Jose Abreu talked last night about that you guys know how to play small ball, and the experience is very key especially in moments like yesterday when the Twins tried to make the comeback and not lose confidence. Aside from that, what do you think is going to be the key to not just win today, but also keep advancing on?

JEREMY PEÑA: I say in the postseason it's very important to lay a bunt down, move the runner over, but it's important to play good defense. It's important to know when to take the RBI because every run is so important.

Yeah, it's knowing how to just play the game a little cleaner, and stats don't matter. Stats don't matter in the postseason. What matters is winning and in the moments, the big moments.

Q. Are you surprised by your home run drought in the second half? Is that something that affects your game much, or as long as you're doing other things, that doesn't matter?

JEREMY PEÑA: I wouldn't say it affects me. Of course I want to be launching balls out of the stadium, but it is what it is. It's part of the game. So just show up every single day, prepare as best as I can to go out and help the team. That's my focus all year, just keep getting better, 1 percent better every day, and let the game take care of itself.

As long as I take care of my preparation, then I'm okay with the result of the game.