WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL A

March 5, 2026

Jose Mosquera

Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Team Colombia

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Hi. Obviously we would like to get your impressions of tomorrow's game. Can you tell us, against Puerto Rico it's the opening game, your impressions about that game?

JOSE MOSQUERA: Good morning. Thank you for the invitation. From the experience we've had in the last two Classics, we know that no game for us is going to be easy. We want to go out to play and put the guys in the best position for the scenario we have.

We have great vet, such as Jose Quintana, who's really used to this kind of scenario. That really gives us ease of mind having him as our opening pitcher.

Without a doubt, we know the challenge that we have having Puerto Rico as the home team, we know that everything is going to be a little, let's say, tough, like the crowd. We know what kind of a country Puerto Rico is with baseball. We're facing that not only in the field, but also mentally.

Q. This Colombia team has had to play in the past with some pool that you could say are death teams. Now you have a group that doesn't have the United States, they don't have the Dominican Republic. How do you see the pool, how do you see Colombia's possibilities?

JOSE MOSQUERA: As I said before, we respect each opponent. We know how difficult it's been for us to advance to the next round. Ever since the pool was announced, as you mentioned, we've had very similar teams we've had to face in different tournaments, such as Cuba, Panama, and even Canada has been in the three Classics with us.

We know it's a challenge, but at the same time, we dream of maybe since we don't have powerhouses like United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, like our first Classic we had Mexico; we were able to defeat them. After that, we didn't get another victory.

For us we have to focus on what we have in front of us. The most important thing is for tomorrow before us, and we know that we will depend a lot on the strategy of how we deal with things. Without a doubt, we want to go to the next round. We think that this group will give us a chance to compete in every game.

Q. What can you tell us about the scouting? We know that you all depend on scouting a lot? I don't know how much you know the Puerto Rico team, it's a team that with those that we've had, we have 17 rookies.

JOSE MOSQUERA: You know we have had lost players. We know that we lost one player, and that's why we have Jose now.

I don't know the team, but I do know the manager, Yadi. I faced him in the Caribbean Series in '21, and Juan "Igor" I played with him. These are the best competitors that I know of.

I understand that with the players that they have, they're going to give the best, and players like Heliot Ramos who I've followed and players like Menendez, who I have also followed for a long time. We know it's an aggressive team they play good ball. It's a team with a lot of experience. We know there's Cora. There are people that are great in the game. The idea is to counteract this with our strategy, try to start ahead and stay ahead as much as we can.

Q. Welcome to Puerto Rico. Since you mentioned the players that we've lost, any player that Colombia has lost?

JOSE MOSQUERA: Unfortunately, Jorge Alfaro was not given a visa. Unfortunately having a catcher like him. Because of that, Elias Diaz signed with Kansas City, and that's another player we lost.

Two of our star pitchers, we had the exhibition games, Sanmartin, he's on the 40-man roster with San Francisco, and he had to leave the game because of a problem with a hamstring, and we had to replace him.

We've lost a few players, so we know this is part of the process. Everyone is in the same position, and so with what we have, we're going to compete. I do trust our team. We have very experienced players that are going to compensate for those players that we lost in order to give everything in the field.

Q. Is it good or not to start with the home team in its home in a full stadium? Is it good to get out of that challenge ahead, or would it be better after?

JOSE MOSQUERA: I believe to go onto the second round, you have to at least win a game. But personally to get Puerto Rico out of the way is going to place you in a position of understanding how you are facing other teams, and that will help you move faster.

These are short tournaments that can end in the blink of an eye. So it's important for us to know them as a team and know them how they are against the level that we are.

We understand that Puerto Rico is one of the favorites in the group. Obviously that will be our initial test.

Q. In terms of the pitchers, managing pitchers, coaching pitchers, which is always a headache, it is a point of interest that is big for the coaches. What is going to be tomorrow's philosophy, your vision toward that?

JOSE MOSQUERA: Obviously we need to read the game. We know that Jose is a player who attacks the zone. We only have 65 pitches, and we need him to throw everything he can. As you mentioned, we know that it's a veteran team. It's not going to be easy for Jose. It's possible that those 65 pitches will end in two, three innings. He may be able to give us a bit more, which is what we hope, and have the strength and the bullpen that we have.

Without a doubt, I trust and I'm very confident what we have on the mound. I know that he's a good competitor. He has said how good he feels, and we have been preparing for this team, and he is preparing mentally for the team. He is a guy that has more than 12 years in the Big Leagues. He knows these scenarios very well. He's going to face one of the veterans of the game. He's going to be most important.

Baseball is going to be the winner here because it's going to be a great game.

Q. Luis Patino, I know that he's got the chance of starting. How will you decide that?

JOSE MOSQUERA: He started the game yesterday against the Braves. He overcame a very difficult injury in his shoulder, so it was the first time that he was again at a ballpark, and we brought him over to see how he felt. We know that he's a competitor.

He has experience in the Big Leagues, and the plan is to use him, let's say, for the last two games with Cuba and Panama, depending on what happens in the games. He will one of those starters.

But he's fine. He's very excited. He's a guy who I'm sure this ballpark would give him a chance to come back to organized ball.