Q: You were actually a QB in high school and you were offered a scholarship from the University of Tennessee … at the same time, you were drafted for baseball. Why did you ultimately choose baseball?
A: It was definitely a tough decision. We had multiple talks with my family about which side to go with. I think just growing up in baseball and being around it so much, that was my first love and that’s what I wanted to do.
Q: You were raised in a baseball family. Your dad and uncle both played in the major leagues. What was that like growing up?
A: It was great. I thought that everybody went in the summers and visited different cities and got to go on bus rides, and be in the clubhouse and everything. As I got older, I realized not everybody does that (laughs). So it was special and it helped me be a better baseball player today.
Q: Has your dad always given you advice and helped you along in this process?
A: He never really pushed me to play baseball. He was always, “If you want to, I’ll throw with you, I’ll play catch,” all that kind of stuff. But he never forced me to. I think he would have liked me to play football, just because it’s a different sport. But he’s definitely glad that I got to play baseball.
Q: You actually wanted to play shortstop when you were drafted by the Red Sox, right? You weren’t into pitching then?
A: Yeah, I wasn’t into it at all (laughs). I wanted to be a shortstop and I wanted to play every day. I loved hitting, I loved everything about it. I had a chance to pitch and play shortstop one year, and then at the end of the year we kind of talked about which would get me to the big leagues the fastest. That was the biggest goal — just getting to the big leagues. I didn’t care if it was by being a bat boy or by pitching.
Q: You were traded to the Padres, and things were going well for you, and then you get sidelined with an elbow injury for three-and-a-half months. How frustrating was that?
A: It was tough. But at the same time, you can’t do anything when you’re hurt. Yeah, I want to be out there, but obviously my elbow hurt and I couldn’t do anything about it. It definitely tells you to trust the process. You have to go day to day. You can’t think you’re going to be there for a few more months, because that just feels like forever. Looking back on it now, it doesn’t feel like a long time, but while I was there, every day felt so slow.
Q: Fast forward to your major league debut against the Braves. Six shutout innings pitched, you get your first hit in the big leagues. Could it have been scripted any better?
A: I don’t think so. I was talking to my family (after the game), and I said coming into it, I couldn’t have said that I wanted to do this or that, and that this or that was going to happen. To look up at the end of the game, and for us to win the game, and everything that went along with it, it was unreal.
Q: Do you talk to yourself on the mound? Were you telling yourself anything?
A: (Laughs). I don’t know if people can read my lips but I do talk to myself all the time. I was just telling myself, “Slow it down, don’t let the game speed up on you.”
Q: Last meal on Earth?
A: Chili dogs.
Q: You can invite three people to dinner, living or dead, but not family or friends. Who are your guests?
A: Keri Hilson, she’s one of my favorite singers: Lil Wayne; and Drew Brees.
Q: Best perk of a big league clubhouse?
A: They clean your shoes really, really nice.
