AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: RANGERS VS ASTROS

October 16, 2023

Jose Leclerc

Minute Maid Park

Texas Rangers

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. You in the regular season, when you started pitching in high-leverage situations, you talked about how much that meant to be back in that role and pitching well. What have these playoffs been like for you, consistently performing in those ninth inning high-leverage spots?

JOSE LECLERC: I think in the past month, just being in those high-leverage situations, it's really helped my confidence. It's helped me grow as a pitcher, having the opportunities to be in those type of high-leverage situations.

Q. For the bullpen as a whole, there were obviously some ups and downs coming down the stretch. And it's like when the postseason started, everything kind of clicked in for that group. What do you think has been the key to you guys being able to be on top of things at the most important time?

JOSE LECLERC: I think that as a group we've just come together. We've really just worked hard throughout the entire season, especially down the stretch, to see how we can improve as a bullpen.

I think the past games that we've had, we've been able to show what we have, and type of confidence. We've been able to have different matchups and have success.

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

JOSE LECLERC: So for me it's just been an honor to have the opportunity to close out these games in the season and especially now in the postseason. I've never had a team since I was a kid, this has been my team since I was young, when I signed. They gave me an opportunity. It's been a really special moment to have this opportunity with the Rangers.

Q. I think you maybe are the only one on the team who was here with them in 2016. I don't think you pitched in that postseason. What can you tell us about the journey the whole team has been on over the past seven years, seeing them go through that long rebuild and now to be here?

JOSE LECLERC: I think it's just made me be that much stronger, little by little. In 2016, like you mentioned, I wasn't selected for the roster. I've had some ups and downs, but I just use that as energy and feel for me to continue me to get better. I knew the team, the organization would get back to this point at some moment. We've worked hard for that, and I'm happy to have the opportunity to be here.

Q. What has having Ian Kennedy down there for moral support done for the rest of the guys in the pen?

JOSE LECLERC: I think that even though he isn't on the roster right now, he's someone who is great to have around. He's someone who has a great personality. He's always there to help out. I think in these situations we're finding ourselves in, he's someone great to have around us and help us.

Q. (Question in Spanish.)

JOSE LECLERC: I think it's really exciting for us here in Texas, the team and state, the fans just to have this opportunity. As a team both of us, us and Houston, we've had conflicts on the field, good ones, too. We've had good battles playing the games. At least for me I'm just excited, happy to have this opportunity to be here.