AL WILD CARD SERIES: RED SOX VS YANKEES

September 29, 2026

Heliot Ramos

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Pregame Press Conference

Q. How much are you looking forward to this, and what do you think the atmosphere is going to be like here, Yankees-Red Sox postseason, first time you're experiencing it?

HELIOT RAMOS: I'm super excited about it. Obviously, it's my first postseason. I had a taste of it when I played the WBC back home in Puerto Rico. But I mean, this is what we dream of obviously, making it to the playoffs. A lot of guys can't even make it, and they have long careers.

And I'm just super excited to be here. I think the atmosphere, the fans always show up here. So that's all that matters. They're gonna be great. And I'm looking forward to it. I'm loving it.

Q. Getting to Tolle is certainly going to be no easy task. Just what's the biggest key in trying to get to him?

HELIOT RAMOS: I just think staying aggressive with him. Obviously he has pretty good stuff. I mean nobody's unbeatable. So at the end of the day it's just about following the plan, being aggressive and staying with your plan.

Q. I saw you yesterday in the clubhouse, looking over the hat with the postseason logo. When you get traded over here how much is this moment on your mind and getting to do this?

HELIOT RAMOS: Who would have thought I would have been here right now? It's crazy that, like, this is happening to me. It's a blessing. A lot of guys take trades like to heart, kind of like in a bad way. But to me, obviously, it was a little bit of a change. But at the end of the day, the New York Yankees want me and I'm here to help. Honestly, I'm loving the experience. I'm loving where I'm at right now.

Q. You're in right field tonight, Aaron Judge is not. How do you view that whole situation? Do you get any motivation, or do you see it as a challenge?

HELIOT RAMOS: Honestly, I just want to gain everybody's trust. This is what I'm here for. At the end of the day, the way that Judge is, at the end of the day, his presence, the caliber of player that he is, nobody can compare to that. But at the end of the day, I'm me, and I know I'm ready for it and I'm ready to go.

Q. Obviously the Red Sox are carrying a lot of left-handed pitchers in this series. How do you think your right-handed bat can play in this series?

HELIOT RAMOS: I don't know. It's not my decision, but at the same time I know I could be a good help. This year I've been raking against lefties. And I look forward to keep doing it.

Q. What do you think allowed you to kind of settle in with the Yankees these last few weeks as you got more comfortable?

HELIOT RAMOS: I think I said it before. It's just like how great everybody is in the clubhouse. We don't have big egos here. Everybody knows their role. I think that's the biggest thing right now.

The staff is great. Everybody has been able to make me feel comfortable, make me feel at home and give me what I need to be here.

Q. What have you learned the last two months sitting alongside Judge on the bench, listening to him talk during games about pitchers and strategy?

HELIOT RAMOS: I just think it's how simple he keeps the game, how simple he makes it look. Obviously, he does make it look like easy but it's not. But at the end of the day, the way that he explains, the way that he talks about the game, the swing, the approaches and all that is super simple.

He's not gonna give you a lot of information to make you go crazy or anything like that. I think he's the type of person that likes, simple is better. And that's what I love and learned about him.

Q. Since you've been in Major Leagues, five seasons now, in other Octobers, when you got home did you watch the playoffs and World Series, or was it having been eliminated too tough to watch?

HELIOT RAMOS: I watch a lot of playoff games, a lot of World Series. I love baseball. I love watching baseball. Even when I'm not playing, I watch baseball.

I always wanted to be there. It was in '23 when I was originally in the playoffs. I lived in Arizona, so I was there. It was a feeling that I can't even imagine. And right now that I'm here, I have the chance to be a part of it.

Q. When you think about your time with the Yankees here so far, it's kind of like the tale of two months. August was kind of a tough time for you, and you seemed really comfortable in September. You had that big home run against Suarez during the Red Sox series at the end of August. Do you see that as a turning point for you during your time here with the Yanks?

HELIOT RAMOS: Honestly, I've been preparing myself, obviously, because I didn't play for like six days, something like that it was, I don't remember. But then the day before I played, I was feeling a little off with my timing.

When I faced Suarez and I took my first at-bat and it was a walk, I felt pretty good about it. I was, like, yeah, this is my time. I'm ready to go.

Honestly, it's just like the way that my body was feeling, the way that I was moving at the plate, I didn't like it. Sometimes it's just about making an adjustment, just mental or like your body, or just the way you're setting up in the box. And after that, I know I'm ready to compete.

Q. You said the weather's got you bad. Are you sick?

HELIOT RAMOS: A little bit. I'm not bad sick, but it's getting me.

Q. Has it been a few days now or --

HELIOT RAMOS: It just started.

Q. Like just now?

HELIOT RAMOS: No, like two days ago.