WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - BRAZIL VS GREAT BRITAIN

March 9, 2026

Daniel Yuichi Matsumoto

Thyago Vieira

Daikin Park

Team Brazil

Pregame Press Conference

Q. So, Thyago, are you starting or are you pitching?

THYAGO VIEIRA: Pitching Saturday.

Q. Who is pitching today?

DANIEL YUICHI MATSUMOTO: Sawayama is going to be the starter today.

Q. Is the plan for Thyago to also pitch in the game?

DANIEL YUICHI MATSUMOTO: For sure.

Q. Thyago, you have MLB experience?

THYAGO VIEIRA: Yes.

Q. There's a lot of young players on this team that don't have MLB experience or a lot of players without it in general. How do you use your MLB experience to help mentor other players on the team or help lead the team?

THYAGO VIEIRA: I try to be more around the people, and the players talk a lot about it a lot, like, hey, don't put that much pressure because everybody knows how to play baseball, you know what I mean?

I think the important thing is to have confidence in yourself. I know you guys just saw the guys on TV and stuff like that, but it's the moment to fight -- I think the most important thing, you forget everything and to appreciate it after or before. You know what I mean?

So I just try to, like, come down, visualize yourself, be ready to go and just moving forward.

Q. You pitched on a lot of different teams in the majors. How does this team compare to all those teams you've played for?

THYAGO VIEIRA: The team we play against?

Q. How does playing for Brazil compare to playing all the other MLB teams you play for?

THYAGO VIEIRA: I think it's a lot of mix and different style. So, it's kind of like a little Brazilian style there and to have Japanese style and America style, because we have a couple guys play in the minor leagues side too.

I think being part of that group is very different because us and Brazil, we play for passion, because we love baseball. So the situation's a little bit different. We have guys who still work in different jobs. So for us being in that group, it's amazing.

Q. What's your game plan today? You said it was a must-win, basically, yesterday. Now that it's the day of the game, what are you going to try to do to get this win here?

DANIEL YUICHI MATSUMOTO: The plan for today is win or win. There's no other option. It doesn't really matter how we play. If we play good or bad, but the thing is we have to win today anyways.

Q. What players are you looking to step up in this game?

DANIEL YUICHI MATSUMOTO: Hopefully everyone, all 30 players.

Q. And, Thyago, how does the atmosphere for some of these games, do you think, compare to Major League games, just seeing the crowds that Mexico has had?

THYAGO VIEIRA: It's really impressive because from the Latin sides, they're more in love with the baseball. And to have the experiences, to play the winter ball stuff, like, a lot of energy because of that, and everybody wants to play for your country, you know what I mean?

To have the emotions, I think, becomes a little bit better because you're giving more than 100 percent when you're facing other teams.

Q. How big would it be if you won today and got an auto-qualifier for the next tournament?

DANIEL YUICHI MATSUMOTO: For us, it's very, very important, because it qualifies for the next tournament. And since 2013, we haven't won any game. So today, it's probably going to be our first victory, and we are looking forward to it.

THYAGO VIEIRA: I think in a similar way for us, it's really important. I think it's going to change a lot of things, because if we win tonight it is going to be in the history, like this kid is -- all these guys in the clubhouse. And I feel there's going to be a big step to becoming like in the big stage for the next one, because we're going to have four years to prepare ourselves and try to develop everybody there.

But I think it's more emotional right now because then everyone, at least, like, one game. But if you win -- we're going to win tonight, today. And then we're going to celebrate like a champion, you know what I mean, because we come from Brazil, and then everybody knows about soccer. But it's good right now because we have, like, Internet, Instagram, all that, and to help the people see a lot more Brazilian guys, you know?