“Don’t come sweating me later”: Manny Machado blasts media for skipping Dominican Republic’s WBC practice

At the March 08 WBC game, Dominican Republic team captain Manny Machado didn't hide how he was frustrated by the near-empty media area during his team’s practice ahead of a clash against the Netherlands.

Standing in the dugout, Machado pointed to the lack of reporters in the early workout and delivered the blunt message: "Look around, barely any people here." The Dominican Republic national baseball team star lashed out at journalists for missing morning practices but appearing with questions later. His comments, which were recorded on video, were widely shared on social media and quickly became part of the debate over reporting on preparation at big international tournaments.

Why Manny Machado got furious at the media absence at WBC practice

Machado put the situation into words while speaking during the morning workout, pointing to the empty stands where reporters typically congregate during practice time. "Look around, no meetings, hardly anybody around," Machado said. "They don't want to get up early, but they will roll up asking me questions later. Not a single person here. Don't come sweating me later,” he added.

The video quickly spread across the internet and received strong responses from fans and members of the media, too.

Machado contended that with reporters skipping practice sessions, they lose the chance to gain insight into the way teams prepare before games. That lack of coverage, he suggested, can result in incomplete or inaccurate depictions of preparation for a team. The veteran third baseman also recognized the few reporters who did show up for the early workout.

Machado said those journalists deserve priority access to interviews and postgame questions because they consistently show up to cover the team's preparation during the tournament.

Machado's comments after dominant WBC win by the Dominican Republic

Machado's comments were given extra attention after the Dominican Republic won a blistering seven-inning game 12-1 over the Netherlands under the mercy rule instituted at WBC. Fortunately, the dominant result reinforced the reputation of the Dominican lineup as one of the most dangerous offenses in the competition. The moment also reminded Machado of another tense interaction he had with reporters. After the San Diego Padres lost to the Chicago Cubs in the 2025 postseason, Machado was pushing back on a reporter's question during a postgame interview about the situation, asking if he could be asked a better question, but was frustrated by the loss.Despite those occasional run-ins, Machado still is a major player in the Dominican clubhouse. Born in Florida but with a deep link to his Dominican heritage, he has taken on the leadership role for the national team at the World Baseball Classic, where the expectation is still sky-high. For now, Machado's blunt message to reporters has provided additional off-field storylines for the tournament, that the tension around the WBC is likely to manifest just as easily out there in the dugout as on it.