WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 1 - KOREA VS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

March 13, 2026

Manny Machado

LoanDepot Park

Team Dominican Republic

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Just talk about the passion that DR brings each and every night on the diamond. It's electric from not only the fans and the crowds, but you guys. I mean, would you have it any other way? Just the excitement. You guys are making this a kids' game again. Just talk about that, please.

JULIO RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, we enjoy the game. We're going to show our emotions out there. This is a part of it. I think everybody wants to show the emotions.

I think we play a kids' game, and we're doing it at the highest level representing our country. It doesn't get better than that. So I don't think we're misleading anyone. We're showing everyone who we are, and we're going to continue to do it.

Q. See the support of the whole country to this team. Does that increase your commitment to try to win this Classic?

MANNY MACHADO: No. The goal is the same. This has been our goal all the time to win, to win everything, and we are in that process.

Today we are going out to fight again, and nothing is going to change. We are going to play our game the way we have been doing so far. Nothing's going to change. We just believe in the guys in the clubhouse. Go out and do it.

Q. You know Ryu, the starter of Korea today. You played together in the Dodgers, and you hit against him 6 to 15. Why were you successful? Can you tell us something?

MANNY MACHADO: He's a great guy, a great teammate. When I went there, I communicated a lot with him. And after that, I faced him when he was on the other team.

But you know what? My goal is to win, go out and win and to do my best. Nothing is going to change today.

Q. There is something very important in today's game. You were confident against Nicaragua. Today you are facing a team that is not the favorite because you are the favorite team. How have you worked on that confidence in the clubhouse? How would you define Pujols as the manager?

MANNY MACHADO: He's a former player. He knows, he has been in our shoes. And having him in our corner is very useful for us as a team.

And regarding the rival, we never underestimated our rivals. All the teams are very good. And we are going to play our game, we are not going to change. And I think that if we are going to do that, we are going to be in a good position.

Q. You have spoken about the offense of the Dominican team. They say it's the greatest offense in the tournament or in the world. Your opinion on that? You don't live in the Dominican Republic?

MANNY MACHADO: Yeah, I already have my ID; okay?

Q. But how do you feel to have a country behind you, supporting your team? Nelson said a few minutes ago that baseball is unifying the country right now. Your impressions on that?

MANNY MACHADO: That's true. Our country means baseball. When we wear this uniform, we are not playing for ourselves, but representing our whole country, and they are supporting us as never before. They support us when they are here at this stadium, so we all feel that energy that supports. And bottom line, not for me but the whole team, we are playing for them as well.

We'll be all right. We'll do what we are doing. We have been doing a great job, and we have several players that can make a difference. We are going to continue playing the game we are playing. We are doing so many things.

Q. Baseball is the same, for sure, the same amount of innings, same baseball, but the rival is different because of the game style they have. There are players that you barely know. The team receives information from the scouts that were in Korea. Have you talked to the guys about the pitcher you are facing today? Because you know him already.

MANNY MACHADO: We have many horses, many superstars in our team. We have something different, and it is that we know that we are good. It doesn't depend on the pitcher we are going to face. It could be Skenes or Rodriguez the other day. No matter what, we are going to execute our game plan. We are good at that, and that's our goal, that's our mindset.

We are going to face whoever the pitcher is today, and we can make the adjustments that are required. We don't have many reports.

I do know it's a different team. They have a different style. But we can make the necessary adjustments, that's why we are the best. So we are going to do our job. That's the most important thing. We don't have to think about the other team. We have different skills and we are going to use them.

(FastScripts by ASAP Sports)