WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D

March 5, 2026

Vladimir Guerrero

Juan Soto

Fernando Tatis

LoanDepot Park

Team Dominican Republic

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Juan, Ronald Acuña, Jr. said that you have a bet. The winner has to wear the uniform of the other country. Can you tell us about that bet?

JUAN SOTO: No, to be honest, we bet a long time ago. We wanted to have something dynamic, something funny, to have fun during the tournament. We have been speaking. We have a very good relationship as friends off the field, and that started like that, very naturally.

Q. Fernando, what do you know about Nicaragua, considering that there is a high expectation for you? You want to be in the final at least. What do you know about Nicaragua, the team?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: Regarding the team, we try to focus on our game. We are speaking in the clubhouse. We are going to do our best against all the rivals because they deserved to be respected. And there are no weak rivals. We are going to go out and do our best.

Q. Juan, you faced Junior Ortega in the previous Classic. What do you remember about those Nicaraguan pitchers? He had a very good performance and the next day, he signed with the Detroit Tigers. What do you know about the team now that they are managed by Dusty Baker?

JUAN SOTO: Yeah, I remember I faced some of those players in the previous Classic. It was not easy, but we were able to win. They did a great job, and they did their best. That's what I saw on the field.

But we go out to try to win the game, as well. Thank God we won that game. It was a beautiful experience for them and for us, and they have to be respected. One of those pitchers struck me out, and they are doing a good job as professionals. We might face them again in the majors; you never know.

Q. Juan, you won the World Series. This is your second Classic, several All-Star games, but now you are playing for your country, with your family, your grandfather at the stadium and the fans of the DR. Is that important for you? Where would you put those games in your career among all the wins that you have had?

JUAN SOTO: That was one of the best three times in my career, and it is not the third moment. I was very happy to play in the Dominican Republic, playing for my family, my fans, my grandfather. He hasn't seen me play live for a long time, and I'm very honored to be a Dominican and to be part of this team, which is very special.

I love all my teammates, and we hope to accomplish our mission.

Q. Do you agree this is the most talented Dominican lineup in the WBC?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: I do agree, and I definitely think it's even a harder deal for us because all the expectation is out there. But it's about now coming together as a group, as a team, playing together, and definitely has taken us far. Hopefully we get that goal to win it all. But there's going to be a tough challenge out there, and we're definitely looking forward to it.

Q. How does this lineup compare to All-Star teams that you've been on?

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: It's definitely an All-Star team, but we're going to continue. Still there's a job to be done, really big expectations, and just looking forward to that challenge.

Q. Question for all of you. You have been able to play at the most important stages of baseball. Now you are representing the DR. Are you feeling pressure, considering the Dominican fans are very demanding?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: Well, I used to say that -- last year I went to the first game of the World Series, and in the last game I was more nervous than in the first game. Of course, all the fans want us to be victorious, and we want to be that, too. But we cannot control that. We just want to go out to the field and do our best to win.

All the team members are thinking the same; we are going to do our best to try to win and to help the team to win.

JUAN SOTO: I agree with them, with Vladimir. Thank God I had the chance to play in important stages. And playing in the Dominican Republic was unprecedented, especially with the team. It is an All-Star team, literally. That was a huge excitement to represent your country, play in your country, to do your best there, and to see the reactions of the fans. That was unprecedented. That's why we had a great experience, great vibes in the clubhouse. That's thanks to the support provided by the fans and how they feel.

It is important to play in the World Series; that's a wonderful experience, as well. Only a few players have the chance to be there. It's fantastic. But it's a very special and unique experience to play for your country.

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: There's no point in comparing. We have a very special group. We have a great brotherhood in the team. We are very proud to represent our country. The Dominican fans, we know them, how they deal with the game. But we are prepared. We are together united, and we want to give them what they deserve.

But we have to do a good job first.

Q. Guys, we know that you go out to the field because you are professionals and because you make money that way. This time there is an emotional factor, which is representing your country. As professional players, how do you deal with the emotion of going out to the field and doing your best to represent your country?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: I used to say that I don't look at the name on my back. It could be Toronto Blue Jays or Mets or San Diego. I see the name on my chest, and it says Dominican Republic. You'll go out to the field and you'll give everything you have.

We know we have to do a good job. We are representing the Dominican Republic. We are playing for them.

JUAN SOTO: I agree with Vlady. We have a goal, and from day one, we are focused on that goal, the name that we have on the chest. We have been working from day one, from the very first game, even when it was an exhibition game against Detroit. But we gave it all.

That's why we are committed. And we care about country. We're very proud of carrying that name on the uniform. We are going to play for everyone in the team and for our family because we are family in the team. This is what we are feeling today, and we want to bring it to the field.

Q. Through the exhibition games and being around the team, what are some qualities that have stood out to you that give you confidence going into this tournament?

JUAN SOTO: I feel like the team have. The team we have, that's going to give me the most confidence I can have. Knowing these guys have my back and them knowing that I have their backs, I think that's the whole confidence that we have. That's how we feel every time.

We feel really good right now. My body, everybody feels good. But what is going to give me the confidence, like I say, is seeing the guys I have around me. That's the most important for me.

Q. For someone watching the Dominican Republic team for the first time tomorrow, what is something you want them to know about you guys as a team?

JUAN SOTO: That we're going to have fun. That's definitely the thing.

FERNANDO TATIS JR.: And we're going to be loud.

JUAN SOTO: You've got two exhibition games. I know people are talking about it's only two exhibition games, yes, but that's how we play the game. That's how we have fun. It doesn't matter if it counts or not. We're going to give our 100 percent and we're going to have fun and we're going to be loud, like Tatis says.