The DOCF all started when I made a trip to a local hospital in the Dominican Republic. I was visiting children who had received life-saving heart care operations. I couldn't help but think that in another life, one of these kids could be my own son. If it wasn't for baseball, I may have remained in the Dominican Republic and who knows where life would have taken me. It was then that I knew that I had to use the gift that I received, to play baseball, to do whatever I could to give back.

If I can't hit at a high level, I won't play, and I know there comes a point where my body won't be able to do that.

What happened to me should teach everybody that you should never give up on anybody.

I'm a guy that people look at me not only as a guy that hit the ball.

My whole career, my swing has always been the most important thing to me. Even when I'm taking a shower, I work on my swing.

The fans know that I don't give at-bats away.

My mom, she wasn't like a baseball mother who knew everything about the game. She just wanted me to be happy with what I was doing.