WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: QUARTERFINALS - PUERTO RICO VS ITALY

March 14, 2026

Jac Caglianone

Daikin Park

Team Italy

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Obviously today you get to go against another one of your Kansas City teammates, against Seth. Any messages beforehand to discuss, like some little side bets?

JAC CAGLIANONE: No, to be honest with you. I know Seth's a very smart player. I spent a lot of time last year just talking game plan with him in the dugout. He definitely sees the game differently. But I think as long as we can keep doing what we've been doing, I think we'll be in a good spot.

Q. Who is from Puerto Rico, your mother or your father? And how do you feel facing them?

JAC CAGLIANONE: My mom was born in Humacao, and I'm excited. I'm excited to play them. My mom was, like, I'm kind of torn just because that's her home. But I'm definitely excited. I know a good bit of the guys over there. So it will be a lot of fun today.

Q. You could play for Puerto Rico. You could play for Italy. You decided Italy is your father's homeland. The same for Arenado, that he played first for the United States, now he's playing for Puerto Rico. Why do you make the decision playing for Italy and not for Puerto Rico?

JAC CAGLIANONE: Puerto Rico never reached out until a couple months, like, towards the end of the season last year. I was talking to Italy since I was in college. They just kind of got the jump on it.

Q. Do you think you have any advantage playing because you play the four games in this park and now you are facing Puerto Rico, that is their first game in this park, do you think that that gives you an advantage?

JAC CAGLIANONE: Not really, no. I think there's a lot of Puerto Rican players who are big leaguers and have played in this park before. So I don't think there's really any home-field advantage, I guess, so to say.