WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS

March 12, 2026

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

LoanDepot Park

Team Dominican Republic

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Two questions for you. Number one, considering the powerful lineup of the DR, do you have any internal friendly competition about who is going to hit the ball harder in that team?

And question number 2, have you been able to talk to your father and tell him what it means to you to wear the DR uniform in this kind of tournament, considering that he didn't make it to the national team?

VLADIMIIR GUERRERO, JR.: Regarding the first question, no. We don't even have a friendly competition among us. We just want to go out to the field and do what we have to do to help the team win.

Of course, I have spoken with my dad a lot. About dad, he never rented the Dominican Republic for some personal reasons, and in 2009 because of a health issue. He knows what it is like to represent the Dominican Republic because when we play in the MLB, we always go out to do our best. Even when we don't wear the Dominican Republic uniform, we represent the country anyway.

Q. You have many superstars on the team. Many of you play in the Majors. What are the takeaways for you, Vladimir, because you are also putting the same cause and sometimes it's difficult to see so many stars play like that?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: Because there are no egos here. We know what kind of players we are. We know what we have to do in the team.

But when we are representing the Dominican Republic. Everything in the back, you have to leave it out. There are no egos here in this team, and that's why we are playing like this and winning like this, because there is no egos, and we know what to do on the field.

Q. Can I ask you in English?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: In Spanish, please.

Q. I was asking your teammates -- I don't know how to say this in Spanish -- who has the best home run dance on your team? Many people say Caminero, others say Tatis. Who celebrates the home runs in the best way?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: It all depends on the situation, basically. For example, Tatis, yesterday he was a big -- he threw the bat, you know, even before the ball was inside the field, you know? It is important to see them in the clubhouse.

Q. What do you think about the energy of Caminero when he celebrates the homers?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: We all celebrate our homers, you know, in a different way. We just want to do our job and to show who we are. We try to transmit the energy. No matter who hit the homer, we all celebrate.

Q. Two different styles of baseball will face tomorrow; one team who celebrates more, the other team is more relaxed. How to approach this kind of a game, one team that plays more short and you play longer?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: We are going to continue doing what we are doing. We are not going to change. We don't have to change anything to beat any team. There are no weak teams in this tournament, no matter how they play. Maybe the style is different in Asia, but we just have to play baseball. And there is no weak enemy. We have to try to win the game.

Q. You have been cultivating that ability of your father's to hit the pitches in the zone and out of the zone. Is that going to be helpful tomorrow? Have you seen how the victory yesterday was celebrated in the Dominican Republic?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: Regarding good pitches and bad pitches, you know, from outside maybe it looks bad, but when you are in the home plate, it is good.

My father used to hit the ball long hits, you know? I try to wait for my pitch in the strike zone so that I can do my damage, do harm, but I try to execute the plan that I have.

Regarding the celebrations in the DR, of course I have seen that in the social networks. But yesterday I spent some time with my family, my daughter yesterday, and I was proud to pick her up at the airport.

Q. After the victory yesterday with a lot of energy and adrenaline, how to come back and now to focus on a rival that you don't know that much? However, they are a very good team. How do you put together your game plan and your expectations for tomorrow?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: Well, the victory was yesterday, and tomorrow will be another day. Like I said before, to go out to the field to win, we don't have to change anything to win. The way we have been working, the way the bullpen has been working, it's huge. It's massive, you know, with this team. You just have to go out to the field and try to win and enjoy.

Q. Albert Pujols said yesterday that he doesn't have anything to prove and he did everything as a player. He is representing his country. You make millions, and you have a contract. Do you agree with what Pujols said yesterday? Are you here representing your country? And what are your impressions on Canada?

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR.: When you wear the DR jersey, you don't think about money. You just think about the homeland, and you go out to represent the homeland. The money's not going to play for you. You are going to put your heart in the game and the love for your homeland.

And regarding Canada, yes, I have been watching the games because usually when we've finished our game, they are still playing. I love watching their games in this WBC, and for the first time Canada was able to go to the second round. This is huge for Canada, and they deserve to be there.

(FastScripts by ASAP Sports)