AL WILD CARD SERIES: RED SOX VS YANKEES

September 30, 2026

Wilyer Abreu

Yankee Stadium

Boston Red Sox

Pregame Press Conference

Q. You guys as a team had some obstacles to overcome this year. Can you kind of look back on those and say, we've done some tough stuff before, now we've got to do it again?

WILYER ABREU: Yes. We've been playing through injuries, and we've got a couple of guys that they couldn't be here with us. But we still have to play the game, try to play the game the right way and try to win the game no matter what. And we just try to be focused on the game and stay on the game and try to win.

Q. What do you think you guys need to do offensively to get going?

WILYER ABREU: I think just get more guys on base, try to get some more guys on base each inning. And anything can happen when we've got runners on the bases.

Q. How would you describe just the feeling in the locker room with the season on the brink?

WILYER ABREU: So right now the clubhouse feels good. We don't feel any pressure or anything like that. I think everybody's very focused right now, try to play our game, doing what we know to do.

I think our season resumed on a comeback since the beginning. So I think we can do it again because we've been going from behind the whole season. So this is another series that we're starting from behind, but we can come back.

Q. And how did you guys find out that Roman has to come off the roster now and has a new injury? And just how do you feel for him having to come out of the series?

WILYER ABREU: We all knew yesterday he didn't feel good at all. The whole day he was trying to -- the trainers and everybody was trying to get him ready before the game. But he kind of felt bad the whole day.

It's hard losing him, but I hope he very soon he'll recover. And hopefully he's going to be healthy for next year. But I know this year we had to battle without him. It's a big loss for us, but we still have to play the game and try to win the game today.

Q. Back in March, during the WBC, we at Latino Sports connected you with the fan who caught your home run ball versus Japan. Could you take us back to that moment and also the experience of playing in the WBC? How long that could help you tonight and in the postseason?

WILYER ABREU: That's a really good question. The WBC was amazing for me. That was a really good experience. It's something that I'm always going to remember because it was the first time I represented my country on a big stage like that. And I'm always going to remember that.

I feel very proud of myself that I represented my country the right way and I did everything I can to help my team and my country. I'm very proud of that. And I think that the situation that I leave in the WBC is gonna help a lot this postseason.

I think I have to be focused for the game, like control my emotions and all the stuff, don't let the game speed you up or anything like that. I think just stay focused, stay calm, don't try to do too much. And I think it's going to be a really good game.