I didn't realize how much I loved the game until I couldn't play it.

I don't play to prove people right or wrong. I just want to win.

I've waited a long time to be part of a franchise like this [the Yankees].

There are always things to improve on. I want to improve on my defense, and you can never be a perfect hitter. I want to focus on just playing more and being able to improve on all parts of my game.

I went to college for a reason, and that was to skip the minor leagues. I spent a year in the minors and got my at-bats in, and then I felt like I was ready for the big leagues.

To be able to play baseball for those nine innings in front of a major league crowd is a special privilege.

I'm half-Italian and my name is Portuguese. Michael Young is half-Mexican. There are players from the United States that have heritage elsewhere and it's a great thing to have a world cup to celebrate the whole world. It shows the world that baseball is important and how great the game is.