I don't do stuff to be a star. I do it because I feel it's important for kids, African American kids, to see an African American face that plays baseball.

I didn't know if I could make it to the big leagues without going through Triple-A.

I've pretty much grown up to hide my emotions for the most part.

I don't do stuff to be a star. I do it because I feel it's important for kids, African American kids, to see an African American face that plays baseball.

One of the things I've done is tell myself I can't let bad things that happen to me on the field, off the field, whatever, affect me.

I don't think some athletes understand how big it is to be an athlete, what they can do with just a simple gesture of shaking a kid's hand. It can make a fan's day. It can make a fan's life.

When you think positive, good things happen.