WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D - NETHERLANDS VS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

March 8, 2026

Junior Caminero

LoanDepot Park

Team Dominican Republic

Postgame Press Conference

Dominican Republic 12, Netherlands 1

Q. At some point in time you said that you could come to this team as a water boy. Maybe you were not in the plans, and now you're having a great performance. Tell us about those emotions and feelings.

JUNIOR CAMINERO: Yeah, I said that, that I would come here as a water boy if they needed me. This is a team full of stars, and I couldn't force a lot. But thank God everything is going well, thanks to the management, Pujols, Nelson, people that trust me, and being in the lineup was something very special for me, to be able to help the team.

Q. I saw you when you were 16 with the Cleveland Indians when you were with the academy. Do you know you are following? David Ortiz and Ramírez, people that came to produce? How do you feel with what you are doing?

JUNIOR CAMINERO: Yes, I remember when we talked back in 2019 in Cleveland, I always said that I was a young boy but I was good with a bat, and I have been proving that.

Those names that you mentioned, oh, my God, comparing me with those two guys is incredible. I just tried to help the team at home plate. We have seen the results, not only my results, but the team's results, batting, pitching. We're doing a great job.

I'm confident. I have achieved good results, and we hope to continue like that.

Q. Tell me about the game. Talk about the hitters for the Netherlands.

JUNIOR CAMINERO: Well, we communicate all the time. We don't have a lot of information with the Netherlands players, but they do have information about us. Manny, Julio, Vlady or Tatis, whoever is in the lineup that day tries to give tips to the other hitters. You know, the pitcher is throwing this or that and we are taking advantage of that.

Q. I loved seeing you play defense with Manny Machado. Is it important for you being so young accepting the tips and putting into practice the tips of those superstars? Now you are even hitting homers in the Classic.

JUNIOR CAMINERO: It is great to be with Machado. It is a dream come true. I was taking advantage of that in this Classic, what do you think about this, about that, the foot, the hand, trying to correct things, and learning from him. And we all have to do our job.

But now we are on the same team. It's a very different situation. We are together every day. We are in the same locker room, and it is great for me. I try to learn from him as much as I can. I ask him any questions, and he's helping me, thank God.

Q. When they called you, you were not doing so well, but then you went to the Dominican Republic and ever since you are doing a great job. How did your life change? What does that mean to you, and how about the experience with the Leones?

JUNIOR CAMINERO: It was a great experience. I had many happy moments with Pujols. I just go out to play my game, and we are achieving the results we want. What can I say? I've been working a lot. I want to be more consistent at the plate, and we have seen the results.