WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D - NICARAGUA VS ISRAEL

March 8, 2026

RJ Schreck

LoanDepot Park

Team Israel

Pregame Press Conference

Q. The home run last night, how good did that feel?

RJ SCHRECK: Yeah, it felt pretty good. I mean, getting the score closer and getting it to 5-2, I thought maybe there was a chance at that moment. I think it rallied the team. Obviously it didn't end up working out well, but anytime you can hit a homer in the WBC, it's a good time.

Q. Your first time in the WBC. How cool has this experience been?

RJ SCHRECK: Yeah, obviously it's only been a day so far, but it's been really fun. The atmosphere last night was incredible. I'm sure it's only going to get better from here. Just hopefully get a few games in a different direction score-wise, but really fun experience so far.

Q. You're invited as a non-roster player for the Blue Jays this year. How much are you hoping that this opportunity in the WBC can help you springboard into this coming major league season?

RJ SCHRECK: Yeah, I think that Spring Training is difficult, especially as an NRI, to get consistent at-bats. So coming here, being able to play six games in 10 days where I'm hopefully going to be playing nine innings and getting four or five at-bats a game, just being able to get those consistent at-bats is going to be really helpful. When I go back to camp, I'm hoping that I can take that into the rest of it and into the season in stride.

Q. I'm curious last year when Toronto made the World Series run, to what extent were you involved with the team, and how would you say that compares to this year's WBC?

RJ SCHRECK: Yeah, so I wasn't up there once the actual playoffs started, like for the ALDS. But they had us first in Buffalo for the stay hot group, and then during the Wild Card series we were up in Toronto. I think we had two scrimmages. Some fans were there. I don't think it got anywhere close to the environment that was there last night, but there were a good 5,000 to 10,000 people at those scrimmages. And it was fun see the guys and seeing them get ready for the run and then obviously watching them on TV was a blast.

Q. (No microphone.)

RJ SCHRECK: Yeah, it's been incredible just being able to play in these kind of environments. Don't really get that experience until you get to the Big Leagues, so getting that experience before you debut is really fun.

Q. Lots of big hits for you both in the exhibitions and in the first game yesterday. What do you think offensively you've done or has gone very well for you in terms of enabling that success in all of these at-bats?

RJ SCHRECK: I think at the end of the day, what it comes down to is you realize that you're just playing baseball. It doesn't matter how big the stage is. It's the same game I've been playing since I was three years old.

However it comes, it comes, and making sure I get the right pitch that I'm looking for and able to capitalize on it is the goal every time.

Q. There's quite a five big names here in this pool, active players, former guys. Is there anyone in particular that you grew up watching and really kind of idolized?

RJ SCHRECK: I grew up a Red Sox fan, so having Youk in the dugout has been pretty cool. Not necessarily grew up with, but kind of the same age growing up. They obviously reached it at a much quicker level than I did, but just a lot of guys on the Venezuelan and DR teams, it's cool. And getting to know Vlady in Spring Training is fun and excited to play against him tomorrow.

But yeah, it's just been a really good experience, a lot of stars around.

Q. Given the rise in anti-Semitism, given the anti-Israel sentiment, what's it like to be representing Team Israel?

RJ SCHRECK: Yeah, I have been lucky enough not really to feel much anti-Semitism in my life. I grew up in LA around a lot of Jews. Went to a couple of colleges that you meet some people that have never met Jews before but there's still a large Jewish population at both colleges. So I'm lucky to have not experienced it, and just really excited to play baseball here. So that's been fun.