WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - UNITED STATES VS BRAZIL

March 6, 2026

Mark DeRosa

Daikin Park

Team United States

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Playing a team like Brazil, what will -- what could today's game do to continue the growth of baseball both in South America and worldwide?

MARK DEROSA: I just think put eyeballs on it, right? Like, listen, at the end of the day, they are getting a chance. And we respect everyone; fear no one. I talked about this yesterday. We will take Brazil and try and play them as if we were playing semifinal final. So they will get our best, no question about it.

But I just think it puts -- this tournament puts the average fan, they put eyeballs on it. They want to see our team, they want to see their country men go out and represent Brazil. So, yeah, it could only do good for it.

Q. What's the message to a lot of your players who maybe haven't played international baseball before or haven't played in this tournament before? Kind of what is the -- what are you telling them right now?

MARK DEROSA: I think the biggest thing for me is over the course of 162, you can kind of slow play and lean into the season a little bit. That is not the case with this. This is a race to seven wins. This is in your face. It is fast, and it gets fast pretty quick. We have had those discussions, and they will be ready.

Q. So the games is happening in Japan as well. Have you had a chance to watch it?

MARK DEROSA: I saw the grand slam. [Laughter] I did. I am aware of it.

Q. Any preparation for that?

MARK DEROSA: No. I think we focus on ourselves. I really do. I got so much going on as far as honoring parent clubs with pitchers and trying to get their work in, worrying about our lineup and keeping everyone involved and invested mentally. These guys are superstars. They are used to being in the lineup every day. So trying to get us going, starting fast, starting quick.

I think we had a great three or four-days out in Arizona and our preparation. Guys had a blast. The one thing I am most proud of, it has got the feeling of a true team. Doesn't have an All-Star Game feel to it where guys are kind of feeling each other out.

I pulled the starters in the first exhibition game in the sixth. Normally in the Spring Training game you will see guys shower and leave. Not a single guy took their cleats off. They were in the dugout for the entire nine innings. That was special to me.

So, yeah, I think the focus is on us coming together as a team as quick as possible to try and win seven games.

Q. What are your hopes for the crowd and the environment kind of over the course of the weekend, especially from the USA side?

MARK DEROSA: Are you kidding me? Going through this in 2023, I don't think crowd kind of engagement is going to be an issue. I mean, I was fortunate. I got a chance to be a part of some teams that played a lot in the postseason and went to the World Series, and I am here to tell you that the environment during this tournament matches that, if not more.

I remember being in Miami -- even a game against Mexico in Arizona last year in 2023, I mean, the passion -- and I credit that -- I credit the Latin American fans, the passion they bring to the table. I played in Caracas, Venezuela in '99 as a player. I got nothing but respect for the way they go about it. So, yeah, they bring this fervor and this energy to it.

I think there's a mystery behind the Japanese team that you can't quite put a finger on. Yeah, the fans -- the fans are awesome.