WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL - VENEZUELA VS USA

March 17, 2026

Salvador Perez

LoanDepot Park

Team Venezuela

Postgame Press Conference

Venezuela 3, USA 2

Q. Salvador, congrats on the win. What is your first idea, your message for Venezuela after achieving the goal that you set since 2013 representing Venezuela?

SALVADOR PEREZ: Thank God all Venezuelans know the effort that we make where you come from. Just today, after beating Italy, I saw the videos of the people on the streets celebrating in the smallest town in the country, a black-and-white TV set, and those people supporting us, kneeling down. We won Italy. We are in the final, they said to all those people.

They were with us here in our hearts. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for the support. Thank you for the positive messages that we all received.

And even the not-very-positive messages, those messages motivated us as well, and I have to thank for that too. Those that judged us when we struck out, people that spoke so many bad things about us, but that motivated us as well.

Q. Because of the strategy in the World Classic, you were able to be the catcher in the last game. How did that feel?

SALVADOR PEREZ: Super happy. 30 million people around the world were watching this game today. I'm very happy. The World Series, as you all know, is one of the most important championships in the Major Leagues, but when you fight for your country, that goes beyond. That feeling, the country where you were born and raised, the sacrifices made by our parents, those people that helped us. That's why this means a lot to me and to Venezuela.

Q. Personally speaking, what does this mean to you? Omar said that this could be potentially your last Classic. We don't know that. Thank you for being honest. How special -- Omar is here. Omar is here. He will confirm that and what it means to you, this victory being the captain.

SALVADOR PEREZ: I am the horse. I am the horse. I'm here before the manager himself. Don't look at me like that. I am the champion. I am the number 1, so you can say whatever you want, Omar. Can you repeat the question, please?

Oh, yes, you're right. To me, this means a lot personally and as a group, because these, as Venezuelans, you know, it's difficult to say when Salvador Perez is happy and stuff.

But when you know where you come from and all the support that you receive, 30 million Venezuelans are supporting you, this is more important to me.

Q. Salvador, we are very happy. We want to see you winning a World Classic. We were supporting you 100 percent. And my question: That pitching of Venezuela surprised, but we know about your job guiding those pitchers. What was the team that was more difficult for you to make out?

SALVADOR PEREZ: What do you want to hear, the Dominican Republic? No, no. With the DR we respect all the players. Thank you for all of the support. We have seen so many positive comments supporting us, guys from the DR supporting us before today's game. We are Latin America, but today we were Venezuela. Thank you all for this support. But today we played for our country.

It was not a surprise for me. All these players are in the Majors. Even he who plays in Japan, he was a great pitcher. They proved that today. And people didn't expect that. That was a good thing. They were surprised about the bullpen, that they are not strong in the exhibition games. We were criticized. They called us a deception, a frustration because we lost those two exhibition games.

By the way, thank you to those people because that was an extra motivation for us to be champions.

Q. Congrats on the victory. The message for all those kids that are growing, watching you from Venezuela and they see you as an example? And question number two, what Johan Santana and Miguel Cabrera mean to you as coaches. I wanted to ask you about the last Classic, but you already answered.

SALVADOR PEREZ: No, I didn't want to answer that question.

Q. Congratulations again.

SALVADOR PEREZ: There are so many families, as you know, that cannot come because of the visa; my cousins, my nephews, my aunts, my uncles, the people from Valencia, people that grew me when I was a bus collector. I have to thank you for the support. They never doubted it.

Regarding my last Classic or not, I don't know about it. If Omar doesn't bring me to the next Classic, we are going to have problems. He is going to be in trouble.

And having Johan Santana, Miggy, Victor, they are examples for us, and I want younger people to see that. To me, they were my motivation, my inspiration to grow in the sports and to be someone in the game, sacrifice, dedication, effort, wake up in the morning to train. You have to decide what kind of a player you want to be in the Major Leagues. If you want to play for 15, 20 years, go ahead.

Thank you, Venezuela. I love you. Have a great night, and we are having a great time here.

(FastScripts by ASAP Sports).