WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - CHINESE TAIPEI VS AUSTRALIA

March 4, 2026

Travis Bazzana

Alex Wells

Tokyo Dome

Team Australia

Pregame Press Conference

Q. What are your thoughts heading into the first game of this WBC?

ALEX WELLS: Nervous, excited. Yeah just ready to go and get out there and represent my country the best I can.

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Very excited. I watched previous Team Australia teams in the Tokyo Dome, and I'm very excited to play here, play against Chinese Taipei, Taiwan, and this is what it's all about, short tournament, every pitch, every game matters immensely. So it's going to be a fun one.

Q. Travis, you're going to become the seventh first overall pick to play in the WBC. When you see some of the names that you're listed alongside with that, what's that feeling like?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Yeah, I came across that post and the people that came before me. Very exciting. That's pretty special to be part of, and I hope I can make an impact like those players have.

Q. Travis, when you were in college, you had a note on your phone that you wanted to be here and lead off. What does it mean for that to be happening now?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Yeah, it's super special. I think growing up, I always looked ahead and kind of had a vision of things I wanted to do in this game, and this was a big part of it. I was always writing about it and thinking about it myself. To see it come to fruition, I know Wellsy was on my team and here he is right now. So it's awesome. It's something that, you know, young me would be dreaming of and now it's here. Just got to make the most of it?

Q. And second question, a little less serious, I've heard that you have become sort of the shoe dealer for the entire team? Have you been bringing shoes out for people?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Last tournament, I brought the guys some cool shoes. Then this year, there was some other little gift. But yeah, I have some good connections with Nike specifically and they have really helped me get some cool gear with the guys. It a special experience, and I want the team to have the best experience possible. If I can help that in any way, it's fun.

Q. You obviously want to be the best and you'll be on the field with the best, Ohtani. What's it going to be like being in the same atmosphere with him?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Yeah, I personally believe he's the greatest player of all time and deeper than that for me, he epitomizes work ethic, and mastering his craft in baseball, and that's something I look up to.

But when it comes to that game in a couple days, it's going to be execute. Obviously you can't focus on who is across the field. Just win each pitch and focus on that, but obviously a lot of respect for Shohei.

Q. (What are your thoughts about Chinese Taipei team? What is your strategy?)

ALEX WELLS: Yeah, you go out and respect your opponent. Chinese Taipei are a very good baseball team. They have shown that they can be a powerhouse around the world. You go out there and you've got to show them the respect that that lineup deserves. But just go out there and stick to my routine and prepare to the best of my ability, and, yeah, just go out and take care of business.

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Yes. I have been sharing a clubhouse with Stuart Fairchild in Arizona currently. He's a very good ballplayer. I hope to share the field with him this year. Obviously we'll be competing tomorrow. And there's some other players on Team Taiwan that I have crossed paths with previously and played against previously in Premier12. A great team but we're going to prepare the best we can and feel like we have a great shot to execute and win a baseball game.

Q. I think you made your senior team debut after you were drafted at the Premier12 in Japan. What memories do you have from that time, and even though it's been a very short time, how do you feel you've grown as a baseball from that time through everything you've experienced since then?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Yeah, Premier12 was an unbelievable experience. I think playing in Nagoya Dome and Taipei Dome was sort of one of my first tastes of what a playoff baseball environment feels like. I mean, packed stadium, everyone chanting.

So I feel like that buzz and that atmosphere helps me perform and is a pleasure to play and being in between the white lines for that. Yeah, since then, full season. Some ups and downs, some learning experiences but feeling very strong and prepared for what is to come this next week but yeah, I've definitely grown since Premier12.