Tony Vitello, Giants players discuss 2026 MLB Opening Night

Tony Vitello, Jung Hoo Lee, Daniel Susac, Jared Oliva and Heliot Ramos speak to reporters ahead of San Francisco's Opening Day matchup against the New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Tony Vitello, Giants players discuss 2026 MLB Opening Night originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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Hi, Tony.

first of all, just, how are things going for you overall today?

Was everything kind of exactly what you expected?

How's your time crunch, all of those kind of things, with so many things going on?

Yeah, no, I think it's pretty good.

hooked up with my family, and they're helping me get my car sorted and my condo sorted.

so people taking weight off my shoulders, including all the folks in R&D and stuff like that have kind of already put in a lot of the work, but just reviewing a lot of things today.

So, some extra conversations, and, I've done it before.

Get the group together and ask as many dumb questions as possible.

You'd, you'd rather look foolish earlier than later.

so overall, good.

And of course, knocking out all the things that come extra with, with Netflix.

And really, the more you think about it, I, I know they're trying to grow their deal with sports, but baseball's always looking to grow.

and I think Netflix being a part of things is one, one more, you know, thing in the basket that's gonna help.

and, and we do have your opening day lineup.

Yes.

You've got Arraez up top.

You've got Adames in the cleanup spot.

What, what are your thoughts just sort of overall on how, especially the top of the lineup shapes up, and, and why- Yeah you chose those guys?

Good players.

I'm glad they're in our dugout.

and I think, you know, throughout the year, a couple of those guys, in particular, two of the lefties there are pretty versatile on what they can do.

It's kinda similar to what we've done in recent history, and, most of the guys are fairly familiar with the spot they've been in or have had success at different times.

And then overall, just trying to go with balance.

I think if anything, just doing an interview, talking about putting a stamp on team and things like that, opening day more than ever, what the coaches are trying to do is find out what we got.

And, obviously, there's all the fanfare and all those things.

But if you, if you took a step back from how exciting this day is, what you're trying to do is figure out what you got, what you need to do, wh-where you can improve, what are maybe some areas, you know, you gotta cover up, that, that might be a weakness.

but as far as, again, the stamp thing or, or just the immediate future is let the guys play, you know.

I, I got a recruiting background, and, you're always looking for thoroughbreds.

I've seen more in the opposing dugout and been around more at practice than I've ever been a part of in my life.

So, when the game starts, the people that are tuning in will get their money's worth 'cause there's a lot of them on the field.

And, I think if you had our preference, we'd like to stay out of the way and, and let them go at it and decide who's better just on this given day.

W-with first base, is that related to what Devers was dealing with, with the hamstring in spring training?

Yeah.

Or- Yeah.

And a-again, I think he's kinda, y-you know, for, for brevity's sake and the conversations we've had, he's kind of put the ball in our court.

And, he's been, I won't say cooperative, that makes it sound a little too drastic, but, he's been understanding with kinda any approach we wanna take.

And Bader's done the same thing.

I think he's kinda, you know, similar to Rafi, kinda done a deal where it's, "O-okay, I understand where you guys are coming from."

And, you know, the goal was to get today.

To, to, to today and feel prepared and have guys', you know, bodies and minds as best as possible.

But the season has already started a few weeks ago.

No one's gonna be 100%.

What we want is our best individuals to be on the field as often as possible throughout the year.

Have you determined who will be handling closing duties, or do you expect that role to be fluid?

Yeah.

I, I think, you know, the word fluid has been used probably too much, you know, with just a lot of the things we would do with our team, and in particular, the pitchers.

but it's for good reason.

It's early in the year.

These guys do have a track record and, you know, a bit of a history for the most part, either with the Giants organization or MLB, MLB baseball in general.

but yeah, what we wanna do is kinda assess the situation as the game is going on and, and now with, with R&D and all those things, a lot of those conversations are done well in advance of actually making the move.

So, there's a, there's-- To be honest with you, there are several scenarios where it could be a few different guys.

At least if it plays out the way we talked in there, which there's probably a 7% chance of, of that happening.

We've talked a lot about some of the tough decisions and conversations you've had to make during camp.

How rewarding was the, breaking the news to, to O-Oliva that he made the roster?

That was-- I'm glad you bring that up.

it's good to focus on the positives.

And, he was excited and intense, and that quickly, when he reflected on how hard he's had to work to get to an opening, opening day setting, then it got different.

So, it's pretty awesome, and, I think he's earned it.

And, I'd probably have a lot, an added question in here to answer if he wasn't with us.

So, it's nice when the guys make the decision for you.

And ultimately, that's what you're looking for, and I've said it a million times to y'all because it got me here, good players make you look smart.

And, so again, kind of my tangent or, or overly wordy answer was, we want the guys to play, and then yes, we do have a responsibility as the season goes on to put those guys in a position to be successful.

You, you talked a lot during the spring about how difficult the decision was at backup catcher.

What was sort of the, the final decision there with Haas and Susac?

Yeah.

that, that would be difficult to put into one distinct answer because it was so challenging.

you know, I, I'd like to, I'd like to see Haas again.

I'd like to hang out with him again.

I'd like to be in the same uniform as him.

We'll see if that time comes.

but definitely pleased with Susac.

I mean, Arraez came in the dugout yesterday and said it.

He, you know, to impress that guy basely, he, he, I'd like to-- I'd spend a good fortune to be inside of that guy's head for a day.

I think the game is moving at a different speed, and, and he's so intelligent about the game.

So I'm just trying to, illustrateThat, to me, is the best compliment you can get, is somebody like that, believing in you and talking about your talents on the defensive end, whether it's managing a game, calling pitches, receiving.

I think everybody now that's seen us play knows he has arm strength.

it, it wasn't easy.

i- if anything, I think some of the at-bats we at- we got were better.

you know, and I'm not so sure if we played 30 more games, it wouldn't be just dead even in a lot of different categories.

A- and you have three left-handers in the bullpen.

Is that something that you particularly wanted for this series, or does it indicate maybe more how somebody like Miller, who's good against righties and lefties, might be used?

Yeah.

well, first of all, let's call it like it is.

I just came from college.

I just graduated college.

I'd take eight lefties if You know, that's kinda how it works down there.

but I, I think, you know, it's a variety of looks.

and then also, y- you do look at splits these days, and there are some guys that have reverse splits or ones that are, you know, neutral.

one of our Pike was using a more intelligent word than that, but it, it kind of a wash in some situations.

And so the bottom line is, I love Gage for his composure.

Borucki, hell of a PFP play.

The thing that stands out to me is it's a different look and a tough look on lefties, and he's been in the fire.

and then Miller's just got really good stuff, regardless if you're a righty or a lefty, and he's been in many a situations in a Giant uniform out there.

So I, I think there's good balance in that bullpen.

here's to those guys becoming a posse, and a close group, and being with us as often as possible.

But I think to the point about some of the difficult decisions we had to make, I, I think it's a no-brainer that it's gonna be a bigger group than an eight-man group that helps us.

We got good depth there.

Tony, how'd you sleep last night, and what it's, what's your nerves level today and before the game?

Yeah.

Do I look nervous?

Yeah.

no, I'm just teasing.

I answered this question several times today, and, I, I It took a while to get to sleep, but that's kind of the norm for me when you play a night game.

you get out of here whatever time, and then you'd like some cool-down time, and reflect on the day, and also start looking towards tomorrow.

And then once I was out, I was out.

Patience pays, and, I, I ended up getting a, a good setup.

I like where I'm at, living here, and, so once I was asleep, I was asleep.

But I did make the mistake of not turning my phone on do not disturb.

And, yeah.

A, an old buddy, former teammate, one of Tingler's best friends, he's a part of the Phillies organization.

He wouldn't stop calling me this morning.

So once I was up, I was up.

So nerves?

Don't feel, don't feel nervous?

I mean, I, I think you feel a lot of different things, you know, when the day starts.

And then when you get to the meat and potatoes of the day, it's kind You're gonna wear yourself out if you're You know, I always would talk to our pitchers at Tennessee or, or just in college, like, you can't.

The only guy I know is Roger Clemens that could walk around all day long, from stories I hear, foaming at the mouth, you know, in Ray Lewis mode.

And I think if, you're either, too excited, too nervous, too whatever, you're gonna, you're gonna miss some steps that we were taking in there in the office.

And then, you know, o- overall, I, you know I probably looked soft, getting a little emotional yesterday, just reflecting on players I've been around, in particular these guys in the locker room.

I, I feel like I'm in a different place than I was when I was in Korea or I was in Kansas City meeting one of our guys.

I really like the guys that are in the locker room.

They've made me feel like I should approach this day with confidence and, you know, a bunch of other good attributes.

So you'd be crazy if you didn't have some of that, but it's all kind of being drowned out by everything else, in my opinion.

Which it's me, so I guess that opinion counts.

Hi, Tony.

Hi.

Nice to see you.

Yeah.

you, you started by saying you asked some dumb questions this morning.

I mean, w- what were those questions?

Yeah, just reviewing some of the rules.

they're different, and we've gone over them.

MLB does a good job of presenting those to us.

There's a couple slight changes.

yeah, I g- I gotta be honest with you.

One thing I was looking at was wh- who are the umpires tonight, and it said You know, you get on Google, the first thing you see is there's gonna be a robot umpire.

And it was only for a millisecond, but I kinda freaked out.

And they're referring to the ABS as a robot umpire.

So, you know, just, just reviewing the subtleties that are different, y- you know, rule-wise.

And, you know, hey, I know this guy's our best ground ball guy, but who are our best three ground balls guys, and review the stats.

Just, just anything that you would regret not asking beforehand.

Who was in that meeting with you?

the whole staff.

W- and a whole basket of pastries.

So I mean, if- y- you want as many wins as possible in a day, I avoided, one of those pastries, and they all looked pretty deadly.

So I'm at least 1 and 0 today.

If you're gonna write about something before the game.

We'll see what, what happens during the game.

Yeah.

But- Yeah, but the whole coaching staff was together.

Hi, Tony.

congratulations on your first win, then.

Thank you.

I'm, I'm curious.

you know, it's not only the home opener, the opening day.

You guys are on a stage all by yourself tonight.

The uniqueness of that and just Giants and Yankees, two pillars in Major League Baseball, your thoughts on just kind of the Super Bowl to start opening day for baseball?

Yeah.

I've always loved opening day.

it just is fitting for baseball.

There's I, I don't know.

they, they say on the commercial, "A tradition like any other."

Did I get that tagline right?

I gotta disagree strongly.

Now, part of it is I don't golf.

but th- this, this sport is based in tradition more than any other.

And one thing that's always been there is get the bunting out, and opening day comes with so many things.

But it's a blank canvas for fans, for you all, for the players.

you know, the statistics don't really have much to do with it, for the most part.

And, uh-You know, the players that I've either gotten to know in the big leagues or have coached, a common theme from them was, other than the playoffs, this is the best day, of the year.

So, to enjoy it, and I, I think that'll be easy being in the setting, the ballpark we're in, and then all the preparations that's going in to make this day special.

So yeah, it's unique.

We'll do two more.

Tony, with Jared Oliva being on the team and Koss, you got a lot of speed on this team.

Do you feel like the stolen base is gonna be a big part of your guys's, game plan on a, on a day-to-day basis?

I think the biggest thing is just more than last year.

and you know, last year is mutually exclusive, from now, but there is a carryover effect to an extent.

And as new coaches, all you can do is kinda go off how last year went.

You wanna improve in certain areas to make it feel like you're making an impact, and part of that might be roster decisions or decisions we make over the course of the game.

But yeah, we'd like to be aggressive.

We, we don't have any set plan like we always wanna do this or that.

but it, it was one of the, one of the areas we were looking at when we first got here was speed was lacking last year on the roster.

so he'll, he'll make it an advantage to have a weapon.

And as you said, Koss can do the same.

And it's nice, too, to have guys like Koss that can play a variety of positions.

Oliva's not gonna bat an eye in right, center, or left, if that were to come up.

during this, during this season under special circumstances, do you see Jung-hoo Lee, taking center field again?

Yeah, I th- I think that's no issue.

he feels comfortable doing that.

And, you know, he's a star for a lot of different reasons.

He's got talent, but, but also just in his country and in general.

Sometimes when you're around stars, they become divas or they get used to everybody catering to them.

And, you know, you all know him, you know, probably not as well as I do, but everybody that's been around that guy knows he's a confident player.

But, he's, his humility and, and humbleness is off the charts.

T- Tony, on the flip side of the bullpen, you have no left-handed hitters off the bench.

Did Was just that an issue you discussed?

Was that a- Yeah hard, hard thing to get over?

Or was it, "Hey, if it's the b- best guys we're gonna keep.

If it's gonna be all right-handed bats, that's okay"?

And, and in some ways, does it almost make it easier for you as a manager?

You're just not gonna go matchy, matchy as much.

Yeah, I like that last thought.

I'll take anything that's easier.

it, it, it does kinda simplify things m- maybe is even the better way to say it.

But yeah, it was a, it was a, quite often that was talked about.

And, we went round and round.

And I've harped on, in here or out in the dugout that if we're gonna make a decision, I want everybody to voice their opinion and come up with all kinds of different scenarios.

So we certainly discussed that.

I think the one thing that gives us comfort is, trust me, everybody, everybody that's behind me or above us, or anywhere else wants to win this game as much as any and also wants to start the season off well.

But I think we took comfort a little bit in the fact that we're gonna use 40 to 50 guys over the course of the year, and we're gonna need a left-handed bat at some point.

And I think the guys that are the major candidates are gonna benefit from getting some repetitions, getting healthy, and, I'm sure they'll be chomping at the bit to get their opportunity.

fianc deal with the tickets.

But they were pumped up, especially my brother.

He was really excited.

you know, it's something he was really proud of.

You know, not many brothers, so he was ex- incredibly excited for that.

What did your brother say or tell you?

Did he text you or what?

You talked to him?

He was here actually last night.

Okay.

So when I saw him after the game, he was really excited.

just told me, you know, take it one day at a time and enjoy it while you can.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

First game jitters?

a little bit.

I, it's been a while since I've been in this clubhouse, so I think last time was 2014.

So, hopefully we can bring one of those back again and get my brother to be in here like I was.

So you were here with your brother when you were a kid.

I was.

I was here for the Ishikawa game when he hit the walk-off.

obviously, I waited until everybody was done, but then I came in here, me and my cousin.

Some of my best memories are in this clubhouse, so.

Awesome.

Yeah.

That was I think I've been to one game since then.

I took my fiance to a game right before I got drafted to show her the park, but.

What happened in that one?

Because maybe we're- Another crazy game yeah.

I, I don't remember.

I just remember we sat all the way at the top of the stadium, and it was, like, the best view.

Oh, my.

You could see everything.

So you go up to your brother's locker.

Do you remember where that was?

Oh, no.

Not at all.

Okay.

I was so excited when I got in here.

You were- I was just looking around at everything.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I came in, like, whenever they let every, all the family in at the end.

Right, right, right.

Yeah.

You, you and Haas had, like, such a good battle.

Yeah.

You both did so well all spring.

Mm-hmm.

And I know you guys got pretty close.

Yeah.

What was, what was that like kinda going through that really for six weeks- Yeah and, and really both at the top of your game?

Yeah, it was fun.

Eric is a great guy, one of my good friends on the team, so it was really fun to, you know, bond with him and get close.

And he was the first one to congratulate me when I made the team, so he's an awesome guy, and I'm very appreciative of him.

Family and friends, you just realize the support system you have, you know, all during this time.

And kinda made it, it, it made it really, really cool, even more special.

Opening Day is special in general, but, it just added a little something to it.

What kept you going?

you know, there's a, there's just a passion for the game that, you know, I think every, every guy in here, you know, you have a passion for what you love.

And, you know, this is something I wanted to do.

This is something I, I believe in myself.

I mean, you know, I think I can help a team, help a team win, so I think that was what, what kept me going.

And, you know, here we are.

Any first game jitters?

not necessarily.

I mean, it's just, it's just pretty I'm just trying to capture it all in right now.

This is, this is an amazing moment, an amazing, kinda stepping stone.

no jitters really.

I think everyone here is just pretty excited.

How did you hear the news that you had broken team, and who broke it to you?

I went in after the exhibition game, and Tony, Buster, and Zach, called me in.

We had a conversation and stuff, so, pretty cool.

At what point this spring did you feel like, hey, that this might happen?

Did you get a hint or Obviously you were playing well, but-Played well before and it hadn't worked out.

Yeah.

At what point did you feel like this, this could go down?

Right.

Well, honestly, stepping into camp, you know, every camp I've been in, I firmly believe, like, I could come in and help, help the team win.

If I didn't, you know, I think, you know, you're a little, you know, under matched.

but when I came in, honestly, I give credit to, to a lot of these veterans from the front office bringing me in.

The moment I stepped in, they made me feel comfortable, and they, they You could tell they believed in everyone in this room.

that's something you don't quite get maybe other places.

here it's just a little more unique.

So honestly, stepping in day one, it was I had a good feeling about it and, you know, it took a lot of work and, you know, a lot of help from all these guys around here, and the staff and, you know, just kind of as time went on, I just realized th-this could happen.

But you truly don't know until, you know, you get told.

But I still believed in it.

And for fans who might not know- Jared, what did, what did Sorry.

What did Buster and Tony tell you when they gave you the news?

Yeah.

They just brought me in, and Tony kind of gave a little, little joke at first.

but they just, they just said they believed, yeah, I could help win against the Yankees here.

And, I don't know, that's kind of when it set in a little bit what, what was going on.

and they just believed, like, you know, everything I showed in camp was, was able to help the team win, whether it's go in and try to, you know, get a bunt down to, you know, steal a base or just going for defense.

there's a lot of options or a lot of ways, I guess, the game can kind of call upon to be ready for and so just kind of be ready for whatever might get thrown at us.

So, you know, I'm ready for the challenge.

You've been a fourth outfielder before, and extra, sort of extra piece.

How do you feel about your ability to come off the bench now as compared to when you were maybe a little younger?

Yeah, you definitely have a better understanding of it.

you know, when you come up in the minors, you play every day.

And then, you know, my, my time in Pittsburgh, you know, you start to experience the, the bench role maybe a little bit more.

And honestly, throughout the minor leagues, it's prepped me too because, you know, it hasn't been too pretty in the minor leagues.

There's times you're playing once a week, twice a week.

So how you operate, how you prepare each day, I think has kind of, has, has prepped me for sure for, you know, maybe this fourth outfielder role, however you want to look at it.

But I just view it as every day I'm ready to go for whenever my name's called upon.

Your speed is obviously such a big part of your game.

How did you become such an effective base stealer?

Oh, man.

Well, I got to give the credit to my, my dad, I guess, the genetics first off, you know, kind of running.

no, just over the years, there's been a lot of influential people that, that have helped me along the way, whether it's John Nunnally to Eric Young Jr. to, you know, Shane here.

I could go down the list of There's just people at every org, every stop along the way, you just, you get little, little nuggets from and, you know, really I've just tried to put it all together and just what I've known and, you know, use it to my advantage because I know it can help a team win, it can put pressure on the defense, and it's something if I'm not using that, that kind of tool, then, you know, I'm, I'm not bringing my best to the team.

So just something each year I've kind of evolved and just try to be the best I can at it.

Were you going on your own every time this spring?

Yeah, we have Yeah.

They're, they're pretty flexible with giving us the, the green light and, allowing us to go in times that we thought were, were good.

there are a couple times where it was, "Hey, red light," you know, try to like let the hitter hit.

but yeah, most of the time I was just kind of looking, doing my homework honestly beforehand.

It wasn't just go out there and go.

There's a lot of work that happens like beforehand, and, you know, once we kind of had what we were looking for, me and Shane, then we gave it a go.

Would you expect to go as frequently now that the game's counting on your season?

Was part of it maybe trying to just show them what you could do?

you know, like we treated spring training just like regular season.

I wouldn't say we're running recklessly by any means.

We had our homework done.

We had our preparation.

If all those things line up, then, you know, give it a go.

So, it just kind of depends what the game's called upon, the situation, count, pitcher.

You know, there's a lot of factors involved to it, but, I don't think we're gonna change the aggressiveness, but now just learning, like, you know, what time's best to go, like it might change, but the game will dictate that.

Who do you hear from?

You said you hear from a lot of teammates.

Yeah, I got I mean, I could go down the list.

The phone keeps buzzing off, but, I've gotten to play with a lot of guys, I guess, over the years and, whether it's, you know, some of my best friends, obviously FaceTime calls to, you know, guys I haven't heard of in a couple years.

just pretty cool.

Just really, really cool.

You realize, like I said, the support system and, you know, people have come along the way that, that cheer for you.

You know, we all cheer for each other, but, you know, when they reach out, it just makes it even more special.

Every team comes into a season saying, "Oh, we're gonna be aggressive.

We're gonna hit it on the base paths," and then- Mm-hmm maybe half of them do, half of them don't.

Like, what is it about Is your presence here kind of a sign in a way that the Giants are actually gonna try to be aggressive this year on the base paths?

You know, I, I Well, I like to think so.

I like to think, you know, it's, it's one of my strong suits as a player and what I could bring to this team and, I think, I think this camp kind of made a lot of other guys realize too just how, how much of a threat we can be on the bases.

Whether you're a top-tier runner or not, you don't need to be necessarily fast to be a good base runner, and I think we showed that in camp just how a lot of preparation, a lot of work we put in, like guys can really, can really, you know, show a difference, I guess, like on the field with it, and I think camp showed that pretty well.

It sounded like it was a very detail-oriented camp, especially with base running and kind of the fundamentals and stuff.

How, how is that different than other experiences you had in your career?

Yeah.

attention to detail's always gonna weigh heavy and, you know, like I said, maybe some, some teams might talk about being super aggressive and, you know, I won't say does the work reflect that, you don't know.

But camp here with all the staff, like it was very diligent every single day of what we're doing and no, no rep is, you know, taken off.

Tony made a good reminder on us that, you know, even when we're not the one on the rep, that we could watch and learn from other guys.

So, I think just a constant reminder, and the staff did a great job with that, has been pretty influential.

Jared, you said a couple of weeks ago that, when you got your opportunity with the Pirates- Mm-hmm maybe you weren't quite ready for it, and you wanted, wanted the chance to make up for that.

Mm-hmm.

What do you think now that you have that chance again?

Yeah.

A pretty special college coach had to say just, you know, you'll get yoursel- ready, get yourself prepared, and the opportunity will come.

it's been a little while since then, but I like to think that the last four or five years, like, there's a lot, there's a lot of things I've learned that have helped prep me to, you know, help out in this situation.

So I like I, I'm ready.

I'm ready for it for whenever the time's kinda called upon.

We're just gonna keep doing what we're doing, not try to change too much.

So we're here for a reason, and, you know, it's pretty special to be around this group of guys and staff, so just trying to keep doing what we've been doing.

Do you know anybody who had to get a Netflix subscription to watch you tonight?

No.

God, they haven't asked me yet.

I'm sure, I'm sure I'll be getting texts about that just now, but no, not, not quite.

Yeah.

So your dad was fast, too?

Yeah, my dad played, my uncle played, so yeah, they definitely got the, got the genetics from them.

So they were definitely the first ones to kinda give me the little, the little tips and pointers, you know, early on from a base stealing standpoint.

Was he the first one you called when you got the news that you were gonna be on the roster?

Or I guess, who was the first?

Yeah, I called, yeah, I called, yeah, I called my parents.

They were, they were waiting, too, you know- Yeah the last few days, just kinda wondering, especially once we got up here to Bay Area, traveling from Arizona.

Yeah, everyone's kinda wondering just when they find out and stuff, and I was like, "I wish I could tell you," but, you know, like, "We'll just be ready."

So they were, they were pretty, anxious, I guess, but obviously, a lot of emotions on their end, too, because- Mm-hmm it's one thing for me, but, you know, they're, they're my parents, they're with me every step of the way, and, they'll be here tonight, so it'll be pretty special, special moment for us.

For sure.

Yeah.

Anything?

All right.

Happy opening day.

So, how was I know you did a lot of spring training, you know, with the Giants, but has WBC helped?

Did that help more for you, playing, like, an actual, like, competition, instead of a spring training competition to- Well, foreign language.

Foreign language.

Foreign language.

Yeah, but for sure, heading over to the WBC and, going out there, playing for the team, of course, you're kinda lev- playing over there in a high intense level, so for sure, like, for the other guys that were in spring training, I feel like I was here or at the WBC trying to, you know, get my, you know, feel back of baseball a little bit quicker than the other guys for sure.

Andrew, what's the excitement like for opening night against the New York Yankees?

Yeah, I just wanna put it as, opening night against, you know, just at home, and of course, I've always had a good, good result playing against the Yankees, but the circumstances are a little different, the environment is a little different, so I just wanna put it as a opening day, and then I'll put my focus on the game tonight.

Well, with regards to the WBC, playing in some of these, you know, winner take all games, does that kind of increase your drive for this season to see this team get into the playoffs?

Foreign language.

Foreign language.

Yeah, if we, if the Giants, if we make the playoffs, it's gonna be a little different because WBC happened in February, and it's gonna be a lot of time before that.

So, I, I, I think it was a good experience for sure, but it's gonna be a different kinda tournament for sure.

And coming into this, your, your third season, how do you feel like you're gonna be better this year as a baseball player?

Foreign language.

Foreign language.

Yeah, I'm physically ready, mentally ready, and, I'm here to help out the team, so I'm just, wanting to make the good season for the Giants, not, not only for me, but, as a whole.

I mean, you're gonna be moving from center field to right field this year.

What do you feel like that adjustment's gonna be like?

Foreign language.

do you, like, in details, what would you want out of them?

Like defensive wise or- Yeah, defensively, what kind of an adjustment do you think that'll be like out there?

Foreign language.

language.

Yeah, as soon as ball makes contact, it's gonna be coming out in a different route.

I'm gonna be seeing the fly balls differently in the right field.

And also Harry having out there in the center field, I'm mentally very comfortable, a great outfielder, defensive player, and I'm just happy to be, out there with the boys.Big Netflix guy?

You have a Nex- Netflix subscription?

What's your favorite show?

There are so many shows.

I watch both American shows- No war and Korean shows.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I felt good offensively.

I felt good, like, do- putting my work in, but this, I feel like it opened my eyes in a lot of different g- parts of my game, and I feel really good about it.

I feel, I feel like a complete player.

I feel like I have no, I have no holes in my game.

Yeah.

I know you put in a lot of work defensively- Yeah this off season.

Yeah, yeah.

Can you just explain, like, what, what, what you did and, you know, the kind of work that you did?

it was just mainly trying to, like, obviously mentally was the main part, because I was making it seem like it was harder than what it was.

And, I just think mentally, physically physically, I got the gift.

I know I got the mo- I can move.

I know I'm pretty athletic.

It's just about, like, trying to, like, not ma- not make it harder.

not make the easy part harder.

You know what I'm saying?

and at the end of the day, that's all I was working on.

I was w- working on my angles, first step, pre-pitch, preparation, and all that.

And, no, I feel pretty good.

I feel pretty confident.

I know you reached out to Jay, sent to Shane.

Did you work with anybody else over the off season?

n- they have one of the guys, his name is Will.

Yeah.

He So Shane gave us the work, and he was with me, put in the machine, giving me fungo, just going through it with me.

just, like, working, like, twice, three times a week on defense.

And, yeah, he's the one who was, like, there.

He's, he works, he helps with the, rehab guys in the minor leagues and all that.

You said you wanted to break the left field streak.

is it an honor to- Mm-hmm be able to break that?

Yeah, it's, just a privilege.

It's just a privilege, and just, like, I'm proud of myself for just, like, working hard, you know, and always, like it's like I told him, it's not about, like I didn't know that.

I wasn't working to break the streak.

I was just working to be a consistent, Major League player and help my teams, win championships, you know?

So that's the main thing that I'm proud of, just, like, overcoming all the, all the o- all the downs and just trying to be, like, here, present, just trying to work hard, just trying to do, give my best.

There were some changes in the outfield, Jung Ling moving to right and now Harrison Bader coming into the midfield.

Is it any different?

Do you feel different in any way?

No, I mean, I'm staying in the same position.

I know that's, Jungi's natural position.

I feel like he's, he's gonna be, we're gonna be a gold glove outfielder this year.

Jungi is an, an amazing player.

I think he deserves every, every part that's happening to him, just, like, as a man, like, I can't, I couldn't be prouder of him.

I couldn't be more proud of him.

Does having a guy like Bader in center change the way you play left?

just more communication, for sure.

he's a guy that has been there.

He's won, obviously, Gold Glove, so it's like, he knows the positioning.

He knows, like, what it takes to, like, make the, the outfield job easier.

Yeah.

And honestly, I leaned on, on him a little bit before spring training started.

Like, we talked a little bit about defense.

We talked a little bit about, like, keeping your feet under you, like, going backwards, all that.

And yeah, like, I mean, I feel like he's gonna help us.

He's gonna help Jungi.

He's gonna help me.

He's gonna make the outfielder, out- outfield better for sure.

With the World Baseball Classic and his injury a little bit, how much time have you spent in the same outfield over the last month?

same amount.

I only played center once in, WBC.

They didn't hit me no gra- no fly balls.

I wanted one.

I wanted one at least to see how, how I'm looking , to see how I'm feeling, yeah.

But, no, I s- I spent the mo- the most amount of time in left field.

It was a great experience.

The fans, the Puerto Rican fans, they're matchable.

they, they're pretty high up there with the Oracle Park fans, the San Francisco fans.

But, it was a great experience just, like, being around all those, like, Hall of Famers, Yadi, Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Carlos, Edgar Martinez, being around them, Juan Igor Gonzalez.

Like, it's crazy to be around them.

It's crazy to see the way they think and the way they, like, approach the game back in their day.

I saw that in the All-Star game.

You've been an All-Star.

You've now broken the left field streak.

Which one was bigger for you?

I just think staying consistent, just staying consistent in the big leagues, just, like, having an everyday job is the most, like, proud thing that I am of.

obviously, I keep going.

I'm not a veteran.

I don't think I'm set yet, but, I am, I am very positive of the work that I put in and all the, all the, all the good things that I worked on this off season.

What was it like to see Oliver make the team?

What do you think he can bring on the field and- I mean, he, you guys see it, he flies.

He's just crazy fast.

So, I just think his defensive footwork, he's a good, pretty guy.

I've seen his bat.

He's a pretty good hitter too.

I just think that he brings that spark that we need, like, that guy that's fast, that can, knows how to steal bases, know how to play the game.

I think, he's gonna be a great addition for us.

Do you think this could be the year you guys really take advantage of being aggressive on the bases, even though it's something you guys have said you guys would do the last couple years?

It's, say again?

Do you, you guys have said the last couple years you guys would be more aggressive on the bases, but it hasn't really come to fruition.

Do you feel like this is the year with the team you have that that could happen?

Yeah, I think it's, aggressive, yeah, is good, but I think it's more, it's more on the bases, just trying to get, take advantage of that extra base.

That's what we've been working on.

That's what we have, that's what we have implemented here in spring training.

Even if we got thrown out at third, we was just working on it.

We wanted to see how it played out.

We want to test our limits, so I think that's, that's, what this game is about.

Just test your limits.

Just test, like, what you can do and, see how far you can go.

Matos was obviously someone who was here for a long time.

Just how tough is it just to kind of see him go?

Man, it's, it's really hard.

obviously, he's my guy.

I love Matos.

I love every single one of them, but I kinda came up and down with him a little bit.

I played a bunch of games in the big leagues with him.

I texted him.

I don't know if he texts me back, but, I wish him nothing but the best.

He's, like, one of the greats.

I think he's a great player.

I think he's a great person, and I think any team will pick him.

Any team will want him any day.

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