WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL A - CUBA VS PANAMA

March 6, 2026

Jose Mayorga

Ariel Jurado

Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Team Panama

Pregame Press Conference

Q. What do you know about the Cuban team? I know it's a little more complex for the scouting report, but what do you know about the hitters? How many pitches or how many innings are you going to be doing today?

JOSE MAYORGA: We've tried to do as much as possible to try to get as much information, as you say. Sometimes it's hard to get. We know it's a team that makes a lot of contact. They like to run a lot.

Obviously with the pitching, it's a team that has good versatility. We know what they have. In the bullpen, of course, with the names that we've seen in the Big Leagues like Yariel. We also know that Reidel. We have quite a bit of information about that. We simply try to prepare as best we can and play the game.

About Allen, Allen will be available to pitch with the restrictions that the tournament has.

Q. Have you already established the next pitchers for the next games?

JOSE MAYORGA: Ariel will start tomorrow, and that's all we have.

Q. How do you feel about your team's pitching staff? I know you have a lot of former Major Leaguers and Major Leaguers. How do you feel about your guys today going forward?

ARIEL JURADO: Well, I'm really happy for the chance that the team has given me. Also, it's a little difficult to adapt here, back here again, but I feel comfortable because I'm at a level where there's a lot of Big Leaguers on the teams. We're going to do the work for the team. That's it.

Q. It's been 20 years that Panama played here opening a Classic against Cuba. Last year Cuba beat you in Taiwan when you practically had won the game. How will you win this game against Cuba with the baseball fans?

JOSE MAYORGA: I believe that for the fans it's like the Super Bowl, as they call it. It's going to be something that's really pretty. We have a good trajectory. We've played quite a bit not only in Classics, but in other tournaments.

Definitely for us to go out and do our best and get a victory, which is most important.

Q. After the games being played in the States, are there any changes, any things you want to highlight for today's game?

JOSE MAYORGA: Yes, there are a few changes in terms of the lineups we had. As I said, those teams were for the guys to choose their terms and for the pitchers to get on the mound and get a more pronounced lineup.

We're trying to do the best job possible to put the players in the best position so they can do their best. Yes, we'll have some changes in the lineup, which we'll announce shortly, which is a little different than we've seen in the Spring Training games.

Q. One last question for Ariel, the Panama pitcher for tomorrow. How do you feel? How has your preparation been from Panama to the U.S.? How are you ready for that important game against Puerto Rico?

ARIEL JURADO: Well, more so I'm happy. I have a mentality to do a good job for the team, be able to help them. Preparation was really good. I kept on doing my own routines, and the routines I've kept on doing in previous years, like in Spring Training. I feel that I am ready for that game tomorrow.