I'm focussing on what I haven't attained, not what I have. A lot has come to me early. I don't want to get consumed with that. Winners live in the present tense. People who come up short are consumed with future or past. I want to be living in the now. My goal is to play one full game in the now, but I haven't even gotten past the first inning yet. I start thinking about where my mom is or if my dogs have been fed. The average human has 2,000 thoughts a day. The really accomplished have 1,500 because you can focus longer. I need to learn how to focus longer.

I have incredible motivation to go out and improve every day.

With what has occurred in my life, the baseball field is where I feel most comfortable. That's what I feel I was born to do and it's what I do best.

When you think small and up the middle, good things happen.

I want to build a positive image that will last my career.

I want to be known as Dominican-that's what I am, 100 percent ... I have a duty and responsibility to continue the legacy of Dominicans in baseball.

You can have fun, respect the game and also play it hard. When you have that combination, you're going to put yourself in a position to be successful.