WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS 1 - KOREA VS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

March 13, 2026

Austin Wells

Junior Caminero

LoanDepot Park

Team Dominican Republic

Postgame Press Conference

Dominican Republic 10, Korea 0

Q. Question for Wells. That HR and that celebration, even though you got settled, you feel more Dominican than ever?

AUSTIN WELLS: I feel more Dominican every day, yeah. Definitely.

Q. So how cool is it to embrace the Dominican culture and to hit that game-winning home run? How much have you enjoyed this experience, going through all this?

AUSTIN WELLS: It's been an incredible experience. Getting to play alongside Junior like this over here has been a ton of fun. And I've been able to learn a lot from them. And to be able to represent not only my family, but the country, it's been a great honor for sure.

The experience has been incredible. Just being able to play alongside guys like Junior and the whole team, it's been an unbelievable honor. And being able to represent my family and the country of Dominican, you know, it's something that I'm never going to forget and hopefully will be able to have the opportunity again.

Q. It seems to be that every place Austin Wells goes, Austin Wells makes history. One of the youngest catchers of the Yankees to play and to make a home run in the World Series. One of the youngest in post season. But also, your first WBC, and you now connect two homers, tying with Bernie Williams, Robinson Cano, Aaron Judge, and now Austin Wells with two homers. Where would you put this home run with a clutch-winning hit and to win by knockout and advance to the semifinals in your career?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, it's probably one of my favorite, if not the favorite, you know? Getting to help win the game today.

I try to live present, so I'm trying to win today, and be able to move on to the next round is a goal. So being able to help out today and be a part of that today was a lot of fun, definitely a special moment.

Q. So seeing what Vladdy and Juan and Fernando did the other day, no bat flip?

AUSTIN WELLS: I'm still getting warmed up, I think. I haven't been one for big bat flips in my career, so I'm taking notes. A lot of times I just black out when I hit a home run, so it's been hard for me to try and come back to it and show some sort of emotion. But I'm taking notes, so maybe next time.

Q. Austin, you have the opportunity to play Yankee Stadium 81 games in the season; right? It's your home. But what you saw here today, what you've been experiencing in all these World Baseball Classic, playing in this atmosphere, the joy on the bleachers, can you compare this to Yankee stadium?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, I think it's different. You know, we're here playing for the country, so on the world stage, playing to be the best country in the world, I think it's just different.

You know, like you said, we play 81 games a season at Yankee stadium. Here we're playing five, six, seven, eight games, so these games definitely mean a lot, and you can feel it from the fans.

Q. Question for Caminero. I asked Albert about your earlier removal from the game today, and he told us about the good attitude you had. You said, "You are the boss. You do whatever you want."

Tell us about the mindset you have on this team, where we can feel the harmony. Can you tell us about that behavior, that attitude that you have for this World Classic?

JUNIOR CAMINERO: Of course. When he talked to me, I told him, "You are the manager. I'm here to support the team, to contribute." When he told me that he would put Oneil, I told him, yeah, that's the right man. When he makes a decision as a manager, we do whatever he says. We respect the game.

And that was the best decision possible at that point in time, and I was very happy. I had two hits, and I told him, "No, you are the boss. I do whatever you want." And I went out to the dugout to support the guys, to support the home run hit by the guy here on my right. Yeah. Whatever decision he makes, I'm going to be happy.

Q. You didn't know Korea, Junior. The DR had never faced a nation team in the World Classic. Did you have a special preparation for that? Were you confident to develop that offense to beat? And tell me about the base running of Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

JUNIOR CAMINERO: We knew about the starter. He threw with Toronto when I was in the Majors in 2023. He was the starting pitcher and I knew him a little bit. Not only me, but the whole team.

So we tried to wait for the pitch that we like to do harm, and we did it.

And base running of Soto -- it's more or less I have the way his squeeze is, looking to score a run at-home plate, the way he moved the arm. It's kind of risky, but you can see what he's able to do for the Dominican Republic and that's why I am going to -- I told Vladdy that I'm going to give him something for him to jump or dive in the swimming pool, I have hit it.

Q. Someone said recently that this was the best Dominican team in the World Baseball Classic. In your young career, and since you are defeatless so far, what do you think about that?

JUNIOR CAMINERO: This is something special for us because we are a very united team, compact team. You can feel the emotion, the energy in the clubhouse. We work as a team. This is something very special to us.

We cannot fake about being defeatless or not. Now we have to focus on the next rival on Sunday, and to continue playing like we have been doing so far.

Q. The team has proven to be patient in this five games and a lot of power at bat. We saw a team today trying to make contact without making those large swings. There was some instruction in that regard, or was it just pitching by the Koreans that led you to work or to try to bat like that?

JUNIOR CAMINERO: Yeah. We didn't have so many reports about Korea, only about the starting pitcher. We just tried to make contact, not try to make long drives and wait for the right pitch to do harm, you know? This is what we did today, tried to make contact. That's it. So we were able to hit lines, execute, and score runs.

Q. Austin, a lot of the talk so far in the tournament has been about how dominant the offense has been (**), but what can you say about the catcher and what he has done throughout the tournament so far. And Cristopher Sanchez, what was it like watching how dominant he was tonight?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, the pitchers have been incredible. They've given us the opportunity, as an offense, to go out there and be free and not worry about putting up runs, which allows us to put up runs. Yeah, they've been incredible.

The bullpen's been dominant. Everyone out there I feel like is at their best, and it's March, so it's pretty impressive.

And what Cristopher was able to do today, five shut-out innings, that was big time for us. We didn't really need to use anybody out of the bullpen. Albert got the last two, and he was on his game today. He set us up for Sunday, for sure. It was an incredible job today.

Q. What is your best moment in baseball, Austin? And Caminero, after Austin's home run, did you remember the screen or the scoreboard that you broke in Quisqueya?

JUNIOR CAMINERO: I was far away when he hit the ball with a bat, I knew that it would be a home run. It crossed my mind that he has a Dominican ID now.

Q. What was your best moment?

A Winning, that was my best moment. It feels great.

Q. Austin, what does it mean to you to have finished that game with a home run while representing the Dominican Republic team? Is it the most special moment in your career?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, I mean, up to this point, you know. It's up there. It's definitely in the top moments.

Like I said earlier, just being able to help the team win and move on to the next round, you know, that's what's important to me. And being able to do it with this incredible team and putting us in a position to be ready to go and fresh for Sunday, that was special and a great opportunity.

Q. Question for Junior. Even though you are so young, have you had time to reflect about what has happened in this tournament so far? Can it help you to be more mature in your baseball career, competing at this high level?

JUNIOR CAMINERO: Well, I try not to pressure myself. This is a very important tournament, and I try not to make pressure on myself. I just try to think that it is the same ball, the same baseball. The fans are more energetic.

But I try to be disciplined in all the areas. I try to deal like that in this tournament. I just try to be myself. I try to know myself better, and that's why I'm more confident.

Q. For Austin, a couple of days ago I had the opportunity to talk with your mother, Michelle, and your brother Carson. Carson Wells, of course. They both told me about the pride that they are feeling about your achievement, but especially your brother Carson told me that you are a role model. Those words, what they mean for you?

AUSTIN WELLS: Yeah, they mean everything. You want your family to be proud of you, and especially your little brothers.

You know, growing up with them was super special. We're close in age, so we got to experience a lot together. We got to grow together and we got to play every sport you can think of together. So they've been the most supportive of me, more than pretty much anybody in my life.

So yeah, it means a ton to me, and those guys are incredible. My best friends.

(FastScripts by ASAP Sports)