WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - BRAZIL VS ITALY

March 7, 2026

Kyle Teel

Daikin Park

Team Italy

Pregame Press Conference

Q. What's it been like for you guys with the team bonding? And, I guess, the plane ride over, sounds like it was a great time with everybody singing and everything else?

KYLE TEEL: I've never seen anything like what happened on that plane. Just Andrea Bocelli bumping on the speaker. Everyone singing it at the top of their lungs. Nobody sitting in their seats, by the way. It was unbelievable. So much fun.

I would say that's, like, the first thing that comes to mind. I mean, this team, we already are like this. We all have the same blood, and it's just amazing.

Q. You've got a lot of promising young guys -- you, Jac. What's it like for you guys? What are your expectations here, especially being up-and-coming big leaguers playing together?

KYLE TEEL: I think it's important to take it day-by-day. Obviously the expectation is to win, but with our process, just leaving it out on the field, bringing energy, getting quality at-bats, and, yeah, going out there to win.

Q. You all have got a lot of big leaguers, also a couple of domestic players in the Italian leagues. What's it been like bringing them into the fold and getting closer with them?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah, it's been great. They're doing a great job. I know for some of these guys it's their first time playing on the big stage like this. But everyone's doing great, and it's just talking to them every day, getting to learn them. And I think that's really important.

Q. Francisco Cervelli said that your target, the target of the team is to put Italy on the baseball maps worldwide. So today the starting pitcher will be Sam Aldegheri. How will this impact for you to the Italian movement? How can the fact that Aldegheri is the starting pitcher today have an impact on the Italian baseball system?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah, he's a great pitcher, and doing what he does on the mound and throwing like he can, it just goes to show how big baseball is in Italy and how baseball is a big part of Italian culture.

Q. What's it been like for you having Posada on the staff, being able to pick his brain here the last five, six days?

KYLE TEEL: Yeah, I'm just trying to be a sponge around him. Growing up, watching him at Yankee Stadium, being a Jersey guy and all, it's really surreal being with him every single day.

He's phenomenal. Just trying to learn about what he likes to do with his routines. He's been giving me some info when I'm getting my BP.

I think it's uses really cool to be around a guy like that, a guy I looked up to growing up. It's just amazing.