“I didn’t realize how much I loved the game until I couldn’t play it."

"I’ve always felt that I need to be somebody in the middle of the lineup that’s going to drive in runs and come up with big hits."

"I want to be one of the best players in the game."

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

"I would tell everyone to go to college, no matter what. It gives you time to grow up."

"I have confidence that whatever I set in my mind will happen. Everything I strived for I reached."

"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."

"I love first base. I want to get better, and with our infield staying intact, that's the best thing for the team."

"If you have the same approach and work ethic each day that you come to the ballpark, good things can happen over time."

"Baseball can be a game of peaks and valleys. Mentally, I want to stay away from the ups and downs and just maintain a level approach.”

“College was a blast. My three years of college were the best years of my life."

"I expected to be in the big leagues soon. I didn’t know exactly how soon, but I wanted to be here soon, and I wanted to make a difference soon."

"The Red Sox didn’t handle negotiations with any kind of respect for me and my family, and the Rangers were the total opposite."

"The only dream I’ve ever had is to become a major league baseball player."

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

"My goal was to go to college and come out the best player."

"I really expect a lot of myself."

"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.”

"You can never pat yourself on the back during the season. Then you get complacent, stop working and let yourself slide."

"Home runs come in bunches. You can go two weeks without one or hit four in a week. Sometimes, you just feel that stroke for a week or two weeks straight."