WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL A - PUERTO RICO VS COLOMBIA

March 6, 2026

Jose Mosquera

Hiram Bithorn Stadium

Team Colombia

Pregame Press Conference

Q. José, this batch of players, the oldest one is Quintana, the most veteran one. From an emotion part, was it a dream to play a World Baseball Classic? Talk to us about that. How do you see the team in that sense?

JOSÉ MOSQUERA: Good afternoon. I believe the emotional side without a doubt, this is an event where everyone wants to be here. Without a doubt, not only here in the event, but on the playing field. Young guys like Michael Arroyo and veterans like Donovan Solano and Rodriguez, José Quintana, is a great mix of players.

We all want to be here. This is our third Classic, and the idea is to advance and go on. That's our focus. We know it's not a simple tournament. It's not easy. But the idea is for us to set those emotions aside and to focus on the game for the emotional part in that game of 2017 against Dominican Republic, you could see how the emotions were. Now it's a more mature team and there is more of sense of responsibility with the challenge that we have before us.

Q. José, the two games that were prior were lost, I know that these are games that you can look at. What lessons do you learn in those two games to this for this new game, knowing how difficult this game with Puerto Rico will be?

JOSÉ MOSQUERA: Well, we had two important absences. Two losses, two absences, Tayron Guerrero. Those exhibition games, we used them to see which of these guys, we use all the players. We only had one shortstop. In an emergency case, we know who we can count on.

We also had the inclusion of Tito Polo, who we didn't have at center field. With him we believe we can have options.

These are games we say even an exhibition game we want to go out and win the game. What makes it easier is I have an idea of what role I can give to each player.

Q. What are some of the challenges of playing in the night game tonight and going into the day game tomorrow?

JOSÉ MOSQUERA: That is something we prepared before going here. The good thing is all these guys have been playing right up to Spring Training. That's why we schedule some rest, going back to the hotel. Really the mindset is competing in every aspect. I know it's tough, but this is something that we prepared before to come here.

Q. Julio is starting the game tomorrow?

JOSÉ MOSQUERA: Julio will be the starter. He will be in the first part of the game, and then he will go back to the hotel because that reason.

I would say the main thing with Julio, he would like to be around the team to be that support and then go back to the hotel to prepare his game for tomorrow.

Q. How great is it to kind of have Quintana on the mound tonight, a veteran in this situation, in Puerto Rico, with a loud crowd? How is it having him be the guy?

JOSÉ MOSQUERA: Nobody can control the scenario more than he. In our country, he has been around this game for a while. Before the Puerto Rico downs with Lindor, Baez, and Correa, he's supposed to be the starter for tomorrow's game. After those downs, we have a conversation with him, and he take pride in this tournament. He said, you know what, in my career I face more righty than lefty.

He's a credit for us. It's really, really good to have him on the mound at this stage.