World Baseball Classic: Semifinals - USA vs Dominican Republic
Sunday, 15 March, 2026
Miami, Florida, USA
LoanDepot Park
Team USA
Roman Anthony
Gunnar Henderson
Postgame Press Conference
USA 2, Dominican Republic 1
Q. Roman, how satisfying was it to hit that HR, especially against the lefty that they brought in? Is it safe to say that that's a to-date career highlight for you?
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah, it was unbelievable. Just building off the guy to my right. And I think that's been the name of the game the entire tournament, is building off of each other and building off of this staff, this bullpen, the defensive plays. I mean, you can go down the line. It's just been unbelievable baseball.
Q. The question, I guess, is for both of you. Very few years ago for you, for you, Roman, it was like not even that. You guys were not playing in MLB, and right now you're being main characters in this great victory for the U.S. baseball. Can you take me through the process of your life to be here and what other feelings that you both have for getting you the home run and both of you home runs in such a good game against such a great team of the Dominican Republic?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: Yeah. I mean, being able to just kind of have the playoff experience a couple years ago and just, honestly, with the guys that are in this clubhouse, being able to lean on them. The ones that have been in the WBC/World Series games, being able to kind of pick their brains on how the atmosphere was was huge for me. It was really cool being able to be in that atmosphere and being able to come out on top.
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah, same thing. For me, I was here the last time around watching the championship game heading into my first spring training and heading into my first full year of Minor League baseball. So a bit of a full-circle moment, but a dream of mine since as long as I can remember watching this amazing event.
You couldn't ask for a better atmosphere this early in the year. So just being around these guys and competing with these guys day in and day out is an unbelievable experience.
Q. Gunnar, you were called not only because of your talent, obviously, but because of how good you have been facing Luis Severino. You came in, and you actually came through; right? Can you just talk about why you have been able to have such amazing success with this pitcher?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: Yeah. I feel like I can see his pitches well, and it's something that gives you confidence going into the game. I was able to fight off a couple good pitches and then get one more over the plate, and I didn't miss it.
Q. Roman, you've come to this park many times. You had to pay for your ticket three years ago. So now your home run was a difference maker. You weren't on the roster to begin, came in. How do you describe everything that's happening tonight, being able to play in the finals here this time as a player and not a spectator and being able to do it here at loanDepot Park?
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah. I think for me, as you mentioned, growing up watching guys like Stanton and Yelich. The team that they had here, coming to these games as a kid, it's something that you dream of. Not only to play here, but coming to the WBC here, you dream of representing this country and being here the next time around or whenever that time may be, whenever your name gets called.
I didn't really expect to be here. I didn't really expect -- coming into spring training, I was heading into my first full upcoming year. The goal for me was to just be with the guys there and get better every day at camp.
Then when I got this call from DeRo, it was an absolute no-brainer to be here and to represent this country and just to be around these guys. It's been unbelievable.
Q. Gunnar, you guys had a chance to be together for a couple of weeks now. You've got one more game. As you approach that end, do you think this team is hitting on all cylinders, or there's a lot of talent and there are some things that you guys aren't doing as well as you'd like?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: I feel like there's still a lot more -- a lot of room to go. I feel like we haven't played our complete game yet, but we came through and battled each and every game, and I feel like that's just a testament to the guys in this room.
They've come in and have worked their butt off, and it's been cool to just get to know people in this setting, because during the year it's hard to have a conversation with people because you're going against each other. But being able to come in and just develop those relationships with each other has been really fun.
Q. Gunnar, two defensive plays. You get the Aaron Judge throw to you to get Tatis, and then Bobby Witt in the fifth inning turning that double play to end the inning. Can you just take me through your perspective on the Judge throw and then just watching Bobby be Bobby?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: Yeah. The Judge throw was awesome. I mean, it was right on the money. It made my job easier. Yeah, that's just a testament to him, the work he puts in to be an unbelievable right fielder. It's been really cool to play with him.
Yeah, Bobby's play was unbelievable. It was fun to watch it from this side of the field instead of him making it against your team. So it was really cool. He's made a couple outstanding plays.
Q. For Gunnar and Roman, as younger players in the league and having a great coaching staff and other great players on your team, is there a single thing that has maybe stood out about how they approached the game or just a hitting tip that you picked up on from one of the players?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: For me, just watching Roman go to work every day, it's been unbelievable. He's been super consistent throughout the whole tournament. I got to watch him a little bit last year for the Red Sox. But being able to be on the same side, to watch him go to work, and just the work ethic he has -- I mean, the ability speaks for itself. It's been unbelievable to watch and really fun playing with him.
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah. I think just piggybacking off of what he said, I could say the same about him and every other guy in that clubhouse. For me, having 71 games in the big leagues and being around these guys and guys who have impacted the game in such positive ways like Gunnar and everyone in that clubhouse, for me just watching these guys and watching the way that they carry themselves on and off the field and how they go about their business every single day, it's motivating for me, as a young guy, to take that and apply it to myself.
Also at the same time, everyone here wants to win. We have a standard here. We expect to win, and I think everyone has been super onboard with that, and it's been fun to just watch the way that everyone works.
Talking about guys like Gunnar, that inning that came up, he said it to me. He said, "Hey. I go, you go." We continue to remind ourselves that. There's a lot of guys in there doing the same thing. The leadership in there from guys like him to myself, it's been unbelievable to be around.
Q. First question for Gunnar. Gunnar, you've been in playoff games. How do you compare the atmospheres of both events? And for both of you, what do you say to the people that said this event are just meaningless exhibition games?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: First off, the atmosphere was awesome. I mean, I've never been in a World Series game, but I have to believe that that's probably what it's going to be like.
Yeah, definitely not any meaningless games here. You see the passion from both sides and from every country that's a part of this awesome event. You just see the passion that it brings, just how well-loved baseball is around the world. It's been really awesome to be a part of, and I couldn't be more honored to be able to represent the USA.
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah, same thing. I think to answer the exhibition game question, it's definitely not that. Like Gunnar said, you don't get that vibe from any team you play, and when you get a chance to represent your country and go out and play in front of these fans and you're playing for something bigger than yourself, it's far from meaningless.
I know I can speak for our clubhouse. Just based on the energy of other teams, it just means more to be able to represent your country.
Q. My question is for Roman. Roman, being from Puerto Rico, how has Alex Cora's influence helped you for a big stage like this one?
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah, I think when you talk about A.C., you talk about a guy who's done it as a player, who's been there. He's been there as a manager, somebody who has had so much knowledge and someone who has helped me so much so early on.
When you talk about last year, I had my first big league camp. The way that he stays in touch, the way that he stays in touch and calls me today and continues to reach out to not just me, but all my teammates. I think for him and sharing his knowledge that he has as a player and as a manager, you couldn't ask for more as a player to be around.
You know, on a manager's side of things, you want a guy who's been in your shoes and who's been there and who's done it at the highest level, and A.C. represents all of that. So getting to play for him and getting to learn from him every day is an absolute honor.
Q. For both Gunnar and Roman, you're both at the beginning of your career still with still plenty of years to play. Do you expect or want to play in the WBC as many times as possible?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: Yeah. I mean, this event is awesome, and anytime that I'm healthy, I would love to be in it.
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah, absolutely. Every time, I hope. It's been unbelievable. So again, just for me being the young guy, being around all these guys that have played and have experience here and so much postseason experience, things like that, for sure. You couldn't ask for a better atmosphere this early in the year, so no doubt.
Q. This is for Roman. So Aaron Judge was talking about your maturity and how you want to get on base and how he's impressed by you before the game. So what does that mean to you, and what is some stuff you've learned from him maybe behind the scenes?
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah, there are so many things I could say about that guy and the type of leader he is, the type of teammate he is. Obviously, we all know what he can do as a player. He's one of the best players on the planet, if not the best. To get to go out and watch him.
I think more so for both of us, watching the way that he works and leads in the clubhouse, he's so selfless. You wouldn't know whether he's had a good or a bad day. He's the same guy every day.
So getting to be here with him and to learn from him and to watch the way that he goes about it, it's no surprise that he is the way that he is. So for me, just being around him has been an absolute honor.
Q. So my question is for both of you. You are going to wait for your rival tomorrow between Italy and Venezuela. You already faced Italy, but Venezuela is inspired too. Any preference about who you are going to face on Tuesday?
GUNNAR HENDERSON: No. Just whoever it is -- I mean, they're two great teams, but whoever it is, we're just going to come out there with a lot of energy. Yeah, we're going to come out there and try to put a lot of runs up and get our pitchers some cushion and take it to them.
ROMAN ANTHONY: Yeah, same thing. I think for us coming into today and every other game -- obviously, we dropped that one to Italy. The main thing in there is we're playing for each other and for this country, and we're not really worried about who is on the other side. We know that if we take care of what we need to take care of, we like our chances. But like Gunnar said, two great teams, and it's going to be exciting regardless of who it is.
(FastScripts by ASAP Sports)
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports165214-1-2239 2026-03-16 04:44:00 GMT
