AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 3, 2026

Brayan Rocchio

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Pregame 1 Press Conference

Q. Brayan, you ended up leading the team this year in RBIs. What do you think was the main contributor to the type of breakout year you've had?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: That's a pretty good year for me, thank God for that. So I think the first goal was my teammates. My teammates giving to me the opportunity to get a lot of RBIs.

Q. You've come through for this team last year in the postseason, this year in September. What about it has allowed you to be able to rise to the moment any time you are in that position?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: I think playing Venezuela, that's the best team that I ever doing in my life because that prepares to me to be successful in those moments, because playing in the final, playing winter ball, finals, postseason in Venezuela, it's another level. That's really hard. It's really intense. So I think helped me to get more comfortable to those moments.

Q. Brayan, the infield has had a lot of changes throughout the year, a lot of young guys coming up and some new guys joining the fun. What's that chemistry and comfortability look like heading into the postseason?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: Really good. Bazzana is doing a really good job all season. Ángel is a really good prospect. He's a really good player. I saw him a little bit in the Minor Leagues. I mean, I think we have a lot of talent in the team. So this year is going to be fun.

Q. Obviously you've moved around the lineup a good amount this season. What has allowed you to be willing to move but also kind of hone in on that nine spot and turn the lineup over?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: I mean, that's my job. That's what I am supposed to do. Even if they move in the lineup, even if I stay in the nine hole, just my really worry is to get on base and give the little guys bring me in.

Q. Rocctober is finally here. How different is the mentality from regular season going into postseason, obviously a different mentality, but what do you do to get yourself mentally ready after the grind of the regular season to make it to the postseason?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: I mean, there's nothing changed. Like I said before, Venezuela prepared me to those moments, because in Venezuela, we play intense baseball. So winter ball give me the confidence to come to these type of games and be myself. I have to say that, because I go out, enjoy those moments, because we don't know when we're going to be here again.

Q. You've had success, and we talk about Travis or some of the other young guys. Have you talked to them a little bit and given them any pointers on postseason?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: I mean, Bazzana, he played in the WBC. He do really good at WBC. Now he plays in Dominican summer leagues, winter ball in Dominican. They play really good baseball there, too. So everybody is prepared to those moments. And I think we're going to be good.

Q. When it comes to the excitement of the postseason, obviously Progressive Field and their fans can get loud and bring excitement. How much do you look forward to kind of invigorating a fanbase in that way?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: I mean, the Cleveland fans is another level. When you go out in the ceremony, you see the people. You heard the people. I mean, this crowd is incredible. I love to play in Cleveland. I love to play the playoffs in Cleveland, because they give you another vibe, you know. It's different here.

Q. How does it compare to the fans in Venezuela?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: I want to say here is more loud, because it's more fans that can come to the field. The intensity, it's almost the same. Yeah.

Q. When you're talking about Venezuela, when did you really find that you had this knack for high-pressure situations?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: I gotta say my first game, the finals in Venezuela, I was to the play, and I see all the crowd. And I was always slow motion. I say, okay, that's my moment. So I gotta enjoy this because it may be my only one. Maybe I'm going to be more here.

But when I play my first game in the Finals in Venezuela, I think that's my first moment that I say like those moments are going to have to be.

AGUSTIN RIVERO: Just for some context, that was the first time that that team made it to the finals after 20 years. So for him being a rookie, first time there was extra pressure for him.

Q. So you felt like something happened mentally in confidence in that moment?

BRAYAN ROCCHIO: In that moment, oh, by a lot. I was never -- I hit a triple in the second game in the final. When I get to third base, I looked at the third base coach, I said, hey, touch me because I can't feel my feet. I'm shaking. I'm shaking. I can't believe this because it was something incredible. Yeah.