WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D - VENEZUELA VS NICARAGUA

March 9, 2026

Wilyer Abreu

LoanDepot Park

Team Venezuela

Pregame Press Conference

Q. What's the mentality preparation for this type of game that theoretical looks to be very comfortable for Venezuelan and trying to keep the pace that you have today to get to the game against the DR on Wednesday?

WILYER ABREU: There is no easy rival. We cannot underestimate our rivals, we have to go out to the field and do what we do best, to enjoy the game and try to win.

Q. You are one of the rookies in this World Classic after the first two games. Tell me about your expectations in terms of the experiences and the feelings that you might have in this tournament? Those expectations have been met or over met?

WILYER ABREU: Yes, it's been too much. I mean, this is huge, this is a much bigger than I expected. I feel so proud to represent my country on the field. It's something difficult to explain, something that I never guessed that I was able to feel because it's bigger than everything that I guessed.

Q. You have a very special visitor today, Pablo. How special is it to have him here right in the middle of his recovery and supporting you?

WILYER ABREU: It's been great to see him again. We are all very happy. I know that he wanted to be here. He wished to be here and it was very important to us for him to come. It's very special.

Q. A friend spoke about the younger players in this Classic, but they count on the presence of big names, big careers. What do you think that you have learned in this Classic?

WILYER ABREU: I think I have learned a lot. I'm going to take many things. To have so many people, outstanding players such as Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, people that have supported us a lot. Personally speaking, I have learned a lot with them. They try to help me as much as they can with their experience. It's been very positive for me.

Q. I found a picture of you as a child and you were pitching. Can you tell us how you make it to a pitcher? Do you think that that experience as a pitcher helped you to be the outfielder you are today?

WILYER ABREU: As a child, I played the outfield and I was a pitcher myself. But this is something that I have been developing throughout the years with effort and hard work and dedication, trying to give my best, trying to stay focused on getting better and better every day.

Q. You were speaking about the lessons you have learned with Martinez and Cabrera. What are those lessons? I don't know if it is about batting or hitting techniques or how to approach the pitchers. Can you tell us something about that? More specifically, did they help you to be a better hitter, those two guys, Martinez and Cabrera?

WILYER ABREU: I think the mindset that they have when they were hitters, how to have that approach to the game, how to take the pitching, what to do, you know, so the pitcher makes more and more mistakes that you can take advantage of. So to be in a better position to hit the ball.

Q. Are you aware of what this tournament means as a qualifier for the 2028 Olympics, and if so, how important is that to you and your team?

WILYER ABREU: Yeah, I think that's very important for us and for the country, too, to represent Venezuelan in the Olympics. I think that's a big tournament, that's a big deal for everybody, for the whole world.

Q. With the information that you have from the locker room or whatever, what do you know about Nicaragua? How did you evaluate this team even when they have had three losses in this tournament?

WILYER ABREU: Like I said at the beginning, we cannot underestimate the rivals. No team should be underestimated. They have great players, professional players actually. If we make a mistake as a team, they can take advantage of that. We shouldn't underestimate the team, Nicaragua, we just try to go out to win and to try to control the game from the very beginning.