October 11, 2024
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Progressive Field
Detroit Tigers
Workout Day Press Conference
Q. How's your nerves? How's your stress level, excitement level?
WENCEEL PEREZ: I'm okay. I'm normal. It's every day it's a normal day. So why do I have to be nervous?
Q. Because you're a switch hitter and because we see how the matchups are going, you could play a pretty big role in this, whether you start or not. What does that mean for you to be like where you come from and have that kind of responsibility going into a winner-take-all game?
WENCEEL PEREZ: I think it's great for me. I think it's more opportunity, even that I can hit from both sides of the plate and even that I can help the team, like, when every situation they need me, if I have to hit from my left side or my right side.
I'm just glad for them to give me the opportunity to bring this moment for the team, and then I think I have to keep working and keep going and try and get better.
Q. When you came back from the injury, how long did it take you to feel equally comfortable from either side of the plate?
WENCEEL PEREZ: I think one week after I came from my rehab assignment, I think I was a little out of my rhythm. So I tried to get on my rhythm, and then I think it was like take me like a week.
Q. What's your process staying sharp from both sides of the plate? How much preparation do you put in, both right and left?
WENCEEL PEREZ: I think I'm just trying to be as simple as I can. I just try to hit the ball. I just try to be concentrate, trying to stream good pitches. Trying and not think too much. I think that's my biggest quality that I try not to think too much when I'm at the plate. I just try to see the ball and hit the ball.
Q. Is it working with two different swings, or when you work on one thing on one side of the plate, is it easy to translate it over when you flip sides?
WENCEEL PEREZ: I think it's easy to translate over because I swing differently from both sides of the plate, but I think I hit it just the same from either side. I think from my right side I just stay more upper middle than pull the ball because I think I pull naturally. So when somebody pitch me either side, I'm just going to pull naturally. So I just don't try to care about inside pitch because I know that I will hit it when I have my swing.
Q. Can you just walk through your approach when the count gets to two strikes, because you've had a lot of success being able to find that pitch?
WENCEEL PEREZ: I think my mindset is just trying to be no out, trying to just like, yeah, I got two strikes, but he have to make me another strike to take me out. So I just trying to be patient as much as I can.
I've been down two strikes a lot, and I think for a good hitter to hit in the Big Leagues, I think you have to be able to hit with two strikes because there's a lot of good pitchers here that make you get two strikes. So if you can get in between that, you're going to be in trouble. But I try to handle that as much as I can and try and be ready when it's two strikes.
Q. Is there a different level of confidence for you guys when Skubal is on the mound?
WENCEEL PEREZ: Yeah, I think like, yeah, definitely, yes. You feel more comfortable when he's on the mound. I think he's the Cy Young. He won the Triple Crown this year. I think with the confidence that he pitches, how confident he is attacking guys, I think when he walk out to the dugout, how far up he is. So I think that gives you the confidence anytime that he's pitching. He just says, I got your back, boys, just go and do your stuff.
Q. How much do you think friends and family back home have enjoyed seeing you play in the postseason?
WENCEEL PEREZ: I think they're enjoying it so much. I think all my family comes, my parents, they always see every games back at home, and after the game I call them and I talk to them a little bit.
And I think they're enjoying it. I prefer -- I wish that they could be here with me. Probably that will not happen, but I think next year they will be here with me, and it should be better.
Q. Do you do anything in the game to acknowledge them? Do you write anything in the dirt before you come to the plate or do you do anything to signal them back home that I know you're watching?
WENCEEL PEREZ: No, no, no. My sister told me that I have to do something that makes them know that I -- so I was trying to do this (indicating) all the time. I was trying to do this all the time that I was seeing the camera so make sure that they can see that. Yeah.
Q. Why that?
WENCEEL PEREZ: That's, like, for family. Yeah.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
|