WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - CZECHIA VS JAPAN

March 10, 2026

Marek Chlup

Tokyo Dome

Team Czechia

Pregame Press Conference

Q. I know you have signed with a Mexican league team. Curious when you're headed down there and what's next. Terrin Vavra is going down there. Have you talked about that with him at all and what he might have been able to share about that?

MAREK CHLUP: So I'm heading there on March 16th. I think the spring training is starting very soon, I think March 15th or 16. So I'm going to be there a few days late. But so this is a very good preparation for me because I'm already going to be like game ready when it comes to spring training.

We talked about it with Terrin because he's going to -- it's different division, different team but same league. So we talked about it. I ask him how -- if he knows how does spring training works there and what he knows about the league because I don't know much about the league.

But we shared some information and I'm glad I found someone who is going to play there, too. So I know some other, my former teammates in the league, as well. So I texted him and I'm excited see them there.

Q. What is your feeling about the crowd and the atmosphere in this WBC tournament?

MAREK CHLUP: So I'm just super excited to see the fans and also hear the fans. Because the two games I played here for Giants last year during spring training were amazing. It was one of the best experiences in my life to have the whole Tokyo Dome cheering for me.

So it was just an unreal experience. So I know today they are not going to be cheering for me obviously. They are going to be tearing for Team Japan. But still, even in the last three games that we played here during the WBC, I saw a lot of fans that were holding my Giants towel.

So it's great that they knew that I'm going to play here and they came to support us even though Team Japan didn't play, they came to see our games. It makes me and my team very proud to see that we have Japanese fans cheering for us. So it's very special to us.