AL DIVISION SERIES: YANKEES VS RAYS

October 7, 2026

Ryan Vilade

Yankee Stadium

Tampa Bay Rays

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Rays, 4 - Yankees, 3

Q. Ryan, how special was it to get that home run for your first postseason hit?

RYAN VILADE: Yeah. It was pretty crazy. Definitely didn't expect anything, like homer being your first postseason hit. You dream about it, and then to do it was really special. And I think in the moment of the game was super cool as well. But yeah, just blessed.

Q. What can you say about this team whenever you went back into the dugout and just how selfless they've been to be able to do that for them as well?

RYAN VILADE: Yeah. This team, this group, we're close. We cheer one another on very hard, and they were fired up. I was fired up. And that's what we do. We play for one another and I think that's what makes it special.

Q. I know we were just kind of talking about this in the clubhouse, but what does it feel like when years of dedication to a game are met with a moment like this? Like what is the aftermath of you get that high of a feeling and what does it feel like after that?

RYAN VILADE: Yeah. It's crazy. My journey has been a crazy one. I think you just gotta keep going. Tough times don't last. Tough people do. And to be able to have that moment today was special, but the moment that was really special was winning and sweeping these guys and moving on to the ALCS.

Q. You're on deck when Victor hits that home run. Are you surprised he didn't even watch the ball?

RYAN VILADE: I mean, when he gets one, he gets one. And as soon as he hit it, I knew it was gone. And then whenever he stands on it like that, he knows it's gone. So yeah, he's built for the moment, and he came through big time for us tonight.

Q. And you guys have been the class of the AL all year. Do you feel like this stage in the postseason you get to show beyond the other teams, the casual fans, just how good the Rays are?

RYAN VILADE: Yeah. We're a bunch of dogs. We are going to go out there. We don't care who's on the other side. We're going to go out and compete and do our thing and be ourselves and not try to do too much and play for one another. And I think that's what makes us special.

Q. Can you take us through that at bat? I know like in your first -- the ball almost left the field, kind of what did you see there?

RYAN VILADE: The first at bat I hit a sweeper or curve, one of the two. And I think going into my second at bat, I knew that he probably wanted to go fastball. So I was just -- my plan was stay on his heater, and he threw me I think three or four and then the fourth one was the homer.

I think what helped me a lot was my first at bat really, just kind of knowing and kind of going back and forth with him. I think those are the type of chances you gotta take sometimes.

Q. Your experience, was there ever a point you wondered whether to continue on, like six organizations, all the teams. When this year did you finally realize, hey, I have regular playing time in the Major Leagues?

RYAN VILADE: Yeah. I would say I never thought about quitting. I don't quit. You know, that's just not who I am. But times were tough and bouncing around orgs and just trying to find a home. And when I got traded here, I was super excited for the opportunity and just blessed and thankful to be here and have that opportunity.

I feel like that was one of the things I was just looking for is just an opportunity. All of us, no matter what it is, baseball, whatever it is, I think we all just look for an opportunity to go out and show what you can do, and they believed in me and I believed in them and I believe in everyone in that clubhouse.

So just grateful. I love this team, love the org, but at the end of the day, it's all about winning.

Q. How many apartments would you guess you've had over the last 10 years?

RYAN VILADE: Too many. Too many. Yeah. Well, that's the grind. That's fun, too. You know, just being able to look back. And like last year, I was in Memphis and sleeping on an Amazon -- or a Walmart bed. And this year I'm here and get to go to the ALCS and compete with my guys. That's just the Lord's plan, and I'm grateful for it.