Q: What was it like growing up in the Dominican Republic?
A: It was good for me because my mom and dad always took care of me. I started playing baseball when I was 9 or 10 and they took care of me. It was easy for me. I never had a job (laughs). The only thing I did was go to school and play baseball.
The starting pitcher talks about his hometown, his journey to the big leagues and his snappy fashion sense.
Q: Is that still home for you?
A: Yes, still. Every year I go back after the season. I stay there for four months and then come back for Spring Training.
Q: Is it a lot different for you, going back? Are you a different person?
A: No, it’s the same. I have a lot of friends everywhere I go and I enjoy my time in the U.S., too.
Q: What’s your best baseball memory from the Dominican?
A: The day I signed my first contract [with the Rangers] to be a professional baseball player. That was the most exciting moment of my life. You start playing at nine years old and you never think you’re going to be a professional baseball player. It was my best moment. My mom and dad was there. They were more excited than even me. I jumped from being a little kid to being a professional player.
Q: Not only did you become a professional baseball player, but now you’re going to America and having to adjust to another country. How was that?
A: It was hard for me a little bit because I had to learn English. I got lucky because all my roommates knew Spanish and English, so I learned how to speak a little bit. I remember one of my teammates, John Danks, he’s a pitcher for the White Sox, and he was my roommate for four years in a row. He used to watch cartoons and I used to watch Telemundo. We made a rule -- he had to watch Telemundo for one hour, and I had to watch cartoons for an hour. It gave me a good example. Like a little kid growing up, you listen and listen and listen, and keep repeating, and it helped me a lot.
Q: Besides the language, what was the biggest shock to you?
A: Just being away from my family. I was excited to come to the States, but about two months later I just wanted to go back home. I missed everybody back in the Dominican. I didn’t know if I wanted to stay playing because I wanted to see my family. I was sad a little bit. They didn’t have a visa to come visit me.
Q: Where most players’ families come see their major league debut, you didn’t have that, right?
A: I remember in 2005 when I made my debut against the White Sox, I got a lot of support from the scouts and the guy who first signed me with Teas. He was there. He flew from the Dominican to Arlington to see me pitch.
Q: You had a rough start with the Rangers, and you ended up going back down to Single-A and then working your way back up. Was that frustrating for you?
A: It’s like one of my friends says: “Sometimes you have to step back to go forward.” At the time, I didn’t understand, because if I play in the Big Leagues, why do I have to go all the way back to Single-A? Finally I did it and I did whatever they wanted me to do. I think it was better for me because I came back and won like 14 games in a row. It made me better. It made me a better person.
Q: In 2008, you made the All-Star team with the Cincinnati Reds and in another game, went head-to-head with Cliff Lee and won. Did you realize how big that was?
A: It was big-time. He was the leader in the American League and I was the leader in ERA, innings, strikeouts, everything. You don’t see that too many times -- those pitchers from both leagues going against each other. The Reds gave me a lot of run support too (laughs).
Q: I always see you by your locker, you have your headphones on, you’re smiling, you’re doing a little dancing. You like that, right?
A: Yeah. I’m a happy person and I like to enjoy everywhere I go. I like music, dancing, and I like to play around with my teammates, make them happy and give them support. When I went to Cincinnati, it was a happy clubhouse: “We lost today, but we’re going to get it tomorrow.” That’s what I try to give those guys in there. If we lost today, there’s nothing we can do. All we can do is get better and get ready for our next game.
Q: You’re a very snappy dresser, too. Where’d you get your fashion sense?
A: I don’t know. I just know how to do it.