FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jorge López remembers attending the 2000 Caribbean Series in Puerto Rico with his mother and the wild environment that surrounded them. He was just 7 years old when Puerto Rico won the title that February, but the memories of those games and the celebrations surrounding them were alive and well on Thursday.

“Just the support from the fans and from everything, it was just incredible,” he said.

López’s eyes twinkled as he took that trip down memory lane, but not nearly as brightly as they did as he recounted Team Puerto Rico’s quarterfinal run in this year’s World Baseball Classic.

This one, López had a hand in. He was one of six Twins to represent Team Puerto Rico this month, joining fellow right-handers Emilio Pagán, Jose De Leon and Dereck Rodríguez; left-hander Jovani Moran; and catcher Christian Vázquez. They rejoined Minnesota’s ranks on Sunday morning, two days after their 5-4 elimination loss to Team Mexico in Miami.

“There were a lot of emotions, a lot of energy,” López said. “I couldn’t even describe how much it meant to play for our country.

“You could even feel [the adrenaline] from the crowd. It was crazy. That’s the only word I can say. … I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be there, and just to have that [in my history].”

The vibe in the stands made the biggest impression on the 30-year-old, who specifically mentioned the flags and the chants from his countrymen. López also participated in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and was impressed at how his fellow Puerto Ricans -- both locals from Miami and those who traveled from afar -- swarmed the stadium in a way he hadn’t witnessed from the “home” team, even when his squad faced Team Mexico in Mexico in ’17 pool play.

“I’ve never been in the playoffs, but I know a couple of guys like Christian Vázquez say you can feel it’s like a World Series game,” Moran said. “It’s very loud. The energy that you can see from both teams, it’s cool.”

One of the on-field Classic memories López will keep with him was entering in the seventh inning of Puerto Rico’s 5-2 win against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday and setting down two-time National League Silver Slugger Juan Soto, American League Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez and six-time All-Star Manny Machado in order.

López caught Soto and Rodríguez looking at third strikes and shattered Machado’s bat while coaxing a groundout in the flawless frame.

“I think we underestimate sometimes the challenges of going through change, and a new team, and the realities of pitching out of the bullpen,” said Derek Falvey, Twins president of baseball operations. “And [López] didn't pitch as well as he wanted to down the stretch last year, for sure.

“But the stuff is good, the stuff’s been good and the stuff's been really good this spring. … So that was a good opportunity, experience, exposure -- to go through [three big-name] guys like that -- maybe a confidence-building opportunity, I guess, is the way to describe it.”

All told, López worked three innings of relief in three games and didn’t allow a run -- the game-tying two-run single he allowed against Mexico was charged to Alexis Díaz, whom he’d relieved after Díaz failed to register an out in the seventh.

Moran, who replaced López to start the eighth in Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic, hit 98 mph on the radar gun that night, and he said that despite the end result for his team, the Classic was an excellent way to get ramped up for the season.

“I’ve never been in those [playoff] situations, so I can know now how it feels,” he said. “It’s easier to control if I pitch in the moment like that. Of course, it prepares you and helps you to get better in those situations.”