AL WILD CARD SERIES: BLUE JAYS VS TWINS

October 3, 2023

Jose Berrios

Target Field

Toronto Blue Jays

Pregame Press Conference

Q. The fact that you will take the ball in the ballpark that you used to pitch in, does that give an extra layer of excitement for you, looking forward to pitching back here?

JOSE BERRIOS: Honestly, it's an honor having this opportunity, like you say. Appreciate being in the ballpark where I grew up as a Major League baseball player and also a minor league player in this organization. So it's going to be fun.

I'm going to enjoy it. I've got my family here. I've got my little one, Diego, he was born in Minnesota. It's going to be special also pitching against old friends, old teammates.

I was saying this morning, going to be a fun series. Going to enjoy it because fans are going to enjoy it. We like that. We took that like a motivation and inspire ourselves to be better out there.

Q. Because you're comfortable on this mound, will that give you more confidence? A little bit more, will you be feeling a little bit more relaxed out there because you're familiar with these surroundings?

JOSE BERRIOS: I don't know if it's going to be a little more relaxed or something like that, but before I was at my home ballpark, so I love pitching in this ballpark because the dugout is so close, so I look like I throw 100. I like it. I feel comfortable with that. Like you say, I've been here I guess to pitch in this ballpark.

Q. Wondering how long did you know that you would be starting this game? What were the discussions like with you and Pete and Schneider about you potentially pitching this game?

JOSE BERRIOS: That was yesterday around, I don't know, like it was 6:00, 6:10 -- no, sorry. That was after the meeting, so 6:40. Schneider and Pete called me and Bassitt. We went to the office and he told us, he explain to us what was going to be the plan.

We got, like, really good and strong starting rotation. So either five can pitch in this series, so we can feel comfortable. But having the opportunity to pitch the second game, I appreciate that and it's going to be a privilege to do my best and help the team try to win.

Q. You've done this before pitching in the postseason. What have you learned about managing emotions? Do you like to dial yourself up, do you like to calm yourself down? What's the approach you take on the mound, knowing there's so much attention and focus on the game?

JOSE BERRIOS: Baseball is the same, regular season, postseason. The only difference is in the postseason the games start getting more quicker, more faster. But right as you start learning how to calm down the game, like, slow down every pitch, every play, every inning, so help yourself to do good out there.

But now with the clock, it's going to be different, but at the same time we have to find a way to make sure we calm down, we are ready to make quality pitches every pitch.

Q. What are some of the things that you've done this year when the game is speeding up on you to slow yourself down and work around the clock?

JOSE BERRIOS: So normally -- sometimes we throw, take, like, three, four breaths, but now we've got the clock, so we have to play with -- just step off with men on base obviously. With nobody on base, sometimes we throw the ball, we change the ball. We have to find a way, honestly.

But sometimes we are human. We want to compete. And sometimes we forgot about that, like, we don't have time. Have to pitch but we have to find a way to make that happen.

Q. How different are you over the course of this season, the changes that you've made that might look unfamiliar for Twin fans because you changed so much since you became a Blue Jay?

JOSE BERRIOS: Honestly, we're getting old. So growing up, we can mature. But at the same time, like, the experience. Being out there playing baseball for many, many days, many years. So get experience. Get a knowledge.

And also teammates, coaches, you can learn from them. And also I've been preparing myself every day, learning, trying to read, study myself and getting more stronger mentally and physically. So that gave me the confidence to go out there and do my work.

I've always been a believer -- I believe in God and he gave me this talent and the opportunity to play this beautiful park. So the only thing is just it's on me to go out there and enjoy the moment and do what I love, is play baseball.

Q. How have you been able to find so much consistency on the mound with basically all of your pitches this season? What was the turning point even going back to Spring Training and through the course of the year that you've been able to be so consistent?

JOSE BERRIOS: How I work in this past offseason, mentally and physically, gives me that confidence to go out there and do my work.

I've been secure throwing really quality pitches during my starts this season. Obviously we are human. Sometimes we make a mistake. But I've been able to make those adjustments quickly during the game pitch by pitch. So I think that's been the big key for me so far this year.

Q. Last year you didn't get to participate in the Wild Card series. You had to watch that. What was it like for you to watch those two games from the sideline?

JOSE BERRIOS: It was different, obviously. I was in the bullpen both games. Losing always sucks. So I feel really, really bad, disappointed because we don't want to be in that position, but God is amazing, and this year he gave us another opportunity and we're here.

We have the group, we have the talent. I believe in our guys. So right now I think we are in a good spot, good position. Our chemistry, our energy is there. So right now it's just trying to go out there and enjoy the moment and do our work.

Like I say, baseball is baseball. The only thing is position is more fun, more quick and more faster. But if you are able to calm down yourself and just try to get relaxed, we're going to have opportunity to get success out there.

Q. Is there an excitement or a pride for you that given your regular season you then this year earned the right to pitch in this series?

JOSE BERRIOS: I mean, yeah, like a competitor, yeah, I feel proud of that. But like I said, we had really good strong rotation starting pitches. So whoever can pitch, like I say, in this series.

Q. Curious your thoughts on the Twins rotation. They've been really good. You know that coaching staff really well. Why do you think the Twins breed such good starting pitchers?

JOSE BERRIOS: That's a good question. The way they work. The way they prepare their pitcher. Also they care a lot about people and they've also been good like they are, pitchers. Also, they have great names out there. They do pretty good work. I think it was them, us and one more team who was solid all year long.

Like I say, it's going to be special. It's going to be fun, this series, and now it's going to be -- I mean, hopefully we can score 10, 20 runs, but that's not true -- so it's going to be like a tight series and a fun one.

Q. What do you think the atmosphere is going to be like here for this series, and how do you think your team is going to handle being the road team?

JOSE BERRIOS: I've been here, playing for Minnesota. I know I see our fans. They love baseball. I was here in 2019, and they packed this ballpark. It was amazing, a good experience.

But at the same time we've had a lot of Blue Jay fans close to Minnesota. I remember playing against Toronto when I was in Minnesota and we had more Toronto Blue Jays than Minnesota Twins some days. I don't know how it's going to be this series. Obviously going to be more Twins than Blue Jays Fans. But having to play for both, I think I'll feel at home.

Q. Is there a certain pitch or a certain location that you try and hit early in the game that will give you a sense that I've got my good stuff today, maybe it's a four-seam glove-side? Maybe it's seeing the action on the change-up. Is there a pitch in the location where when you hit that in the game, all right, I'm going to have a good one?

JOSE BERRIOS: My fastball command, I was trying to locate well both sides of the plate, either lefty or righty. Also my changeup. My breaking ball always was there. But if we had a changeup like the way I want it, it's going to be a great, great outing.

Q. For you, when you're facing lefties, is the changeup more important for you or if you can hit your two-seamer, is that the one that's going to tell you you'll have a good day against lefties?

JOSE BERRIOS: I think the most important thing, for me, is throw strikes, honestly. But, yeah, two-seam, changeup is going to be good combination against lefties. Sometimes they're looking for my breaking ball getting close to him, like in his bat path. So I have to be aware of that and using, like I say, a changeup and two-seam, either both sides of the plate, is going to be a big key for me.