The pay in the minor leagues, I think it's terrible, it's disgusting, it's exploitative.
If you get mad at something that says 'Love Wins,' I don't know what to tell you.
I played all sports growing up. Baseball was always my favorite, though.
It feels weird to say there's more to me than that, like I'm being overdramatic, and a tear rolls down my cheek. But, no - I do like I feel like there's more to me than just baseball.
The old thought process is that you have to respect the game - right? - and act like you've been there before. But I think you can also show how much you respect the game, how much you appreciate the opportunity to play the game and how excited you are to help your team by having fun.
By the time I was in first grade, we had settled in New Jersey, and that's where I grew up, outside of Philadelphia, right in the heart of Eagles country.
I feel like I've always believed what I believed. I've just become more vocal about it.
When I was a kid, I remember my parents would say, 'Baseball is what you do, but that's not who you are' - like that might be my job, but that's not the end-all, be-all. I feel like I might even be able to use it to help other people or open some doors or explore more opportunities.
I used to care a lot about what other people thought - like teammates.
A lot of these guys come to America and baseball was their ticket to give their family a better life... They're incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play this game.
Our union helps ensure that we earn fair pay and benefits.
An A's fan made me a Darth Vader helmet but painted in A's colors.
I'm not just an athlete doing something for likes on social media.
I think it's okay to have fun and show some character and some personality.
When you're in the backyard as a kid playing and falling in love with the game and you crush the ball? You do a celebration. You stand and watch it like Ken Griffey Jr. You put your hands in the air like Manny Ramirez. You don't hit the ball and put your head down and run as fast you can. That's not fun. It's okay to embrace that part of a game.
At the end of the day, I'm a huge baseball fan. I love the game.
Maybe I'm biased because I'm a pitcher, but I think that's pretty cool that a guy can throw a ball 100 miles an hour.
I just like showing people - and this might be at the root of everything that I've done - that I don't want to be looked at as a baseball robot.
People really respond when given an opportunity to take part in something.
You know, I spent parts of six seasons in the minor leagues and I dealt with some injuries there, I saw a lot of things. I had the safety net of being a first-round pick, so I didn't maybe necessarily experience some of that hardship firsthand, but I watched it break a lot of guys. The strain that it puts on you and your family, it's really tough.
