WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D - NICARAGUA VS ISRAEL

March 10, 2023

Ian Kinsler

LoanDepot Park

Team Israel

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Obviously, the great performance yesterday and day before was a solid performance. How do you feel going into the tournament with all the guys here except for Joc?

IAN KINSLER: Yeah, except for Joc. Dean got here today, so it was good to see him here. The two exhibition games I thought went really well for us. Some guys got back on the field that hadn't been on the field this spring. So to be able to get them out on the field, swinging the bat, seeing some live pitching getting on their feet was big. I thought our pitchers performed really well in the two games.

Offensively, I mean, we scored 14 runs in two games. So it was nice to see the bats come alive a little bit coming into the tournament.

Q. You had the opportunity to go to Israel. How do you see the baseball there, the growth of the game? Another question: This is the last year of Miguel Cabrera from Venezuela in MLB. You played with him. Do you talk to him recently? And what is your opinion about him?

IAN KINSLER: So the growth of baseball in Israel has been huge over the last couple of years. There's a field built now in Ra'anana. They're trying to build another one in Beit Shemesh. So youth baseball, COVID kind of hurt a little bit and hurt it a little bit, but it's starting to recover and more kids are starting to come out and play. Hopefully the WBC we can create even more excitement there and get more kids to the field because, you know, the fields are starting to get built. Obviously, I think it's a great game, so it would be nice to see the youth there really grab ahold of the sport.

Your second question about Miggy, I played with Miggy in Detroit for four years. I don't know how upset he is about the Tigers finally moving in the fences for his last year. You know, I don't know what that's all about, but he has had an incredible Hall of Fame career. In my opinion just a shoe-in, first-ballot type of career.

I haven't talked to him much. Maybe a couple of DMs on Instagram, like some fist pounds or stuff like that, but I'll be excited to see him in this tournament and give him a big hug. I hope the best. I think this last year for him is going to be special. We saw Albert go through it last year, and Miggy is next up.

His career has just been absolutely amazing.

Q. You said that Dean Kremer is going to be the starter for game one. Is the rest of the rotation still up in the air?

IAN KINSLER: Colton Gordon game two is our thought. We'll see how game one goes, but that's the idea.

Q. Just an update on Danny Valencia? I think he missed the game yesterday. He was sick. Is he all right?

IAN KINSLER: Yeah, he has got a stomach bug, and he stayed home yesterday, and he is going to stay home today. Still feeling a little under the weather, and I just don't want anybody else to get sick right now. I think he feels the same way.

Q. Anybody else on the team that's dealing with any injuries or bugs?

IAN KINSLER: No, we're good. We're good with the rest of the club.