Reading up on your career I saw that you had Tommy John surgery at a young age. What was that experience like for you and how hard is it to rehab and come back from a surgery like that?

 I had Tommy John when I was 17 and a senior in high school, for me I didn’t quite realize what it was when I first needed it. I knew that I had some pain in my elbow but I wasn’t sure exactly while to what extent the pain was. After trying to pitch through it after diagnosis’ of inflammation I went to a specialist where they told me I needed Tommy John. I wound up having the surgery and sitting out my freshman year in college, and for me the hardest part about the rehab was the mental aspect of it. When you first get out of the surgery you can barely move your arm, let alone think about throwing a ball 90+mph in a year, so trying to stave off all the negative thoughts that run through your mind was the toughest part.

Every player has ups and downs. So far in your pro career what has been your biggest up and your biggest down?

My biggest up so far was when I was in the California league and threw a 1-hitter (carried the no-no into the 9^th) against the Modesto Nuts when I was with the Bakersfield Blaze, or when I threw a 1-hitter against Corpus Christi on less than 90 pitches in 9 innings. Those two games really stick out at me as my best. I would say my biggest down was the 2011 season. I was extremely disappointed in myself in how I performed, especially since I was my first with the Nationals and I wanted to prove things and make them happy with the trade they made but I also think that is where I went wrong, I tried to do too much and go outside of my realm and what I do best and the more I tried to prove myself the bigger the hole I dug myself into. I started to right the ship right as the season was ending, so I am excited to get back on the hill again in 2012.

You have now played for two organizations. What is harder adjusting to a new level of baseball or adjusting to a new organization and their philosophy/teachings?

I would say its adjusting to the levels of ball. The general rules of baseball apply no matter where you are playing the game, whats good about being with different organizations is that you get put in front of a multitude of knowledge and experience and they might have some tweaks or suggestions for you that other people may not have told you before and it might be the extra kick you need to get yourself started again or the extra boost you need.

Having just returned from winter ball in the VWL, which got some bad publicity with the Wilson Ramos incident. Can you maybe share a little bit about your experiences playing in the Venezuelan Winter League? 

 I absolutely loved my time in winter ball, the fans were passionate and loud and the overall atmosphere down there is just electrifying. I love being immersed in the culture and getting to know the people down there, and realizing that when US baseball ends there is a whole other sector that starts up with just as passionate of people and following. I was really happy I was extended the offer to come down there, because I think I was able to work out a lot of kinks I was still carrying over from the 2011 season, although my numbers really don’t support that I really do think I had a successful year down there. The way the Bravos treated my girlfriend and I down there was first class, and I would absolutely love the opportunity to go back down there and play again for them.

Have the Nationals told you about what they have planned for you for 2012 as we inch closer to spring training?

 I am not sure what they have planned for me, I have had some discussions with the Nationals and I realize that my future is in the bullpen as a possible long relif/swingman. I embraced the permanent change to the bullpen last year, and I made it a learning year for me as I have never spent that much time in the pen before but I really did like it. I was in VZL as a starter to work on my pitches and I know the nationals liked that. I don’t know what they have exactly planned for me in MiLB but I know that if I get my chance to play at the next level it will most likely be in the bullpen which I am absolutely fine with. I just want to go up there and pitch.

What is your biggest strength and weakness as a Pitcher?

 My biggest strength is I feel I work fast and make the hitters uncomfortable at the plate. I enjoy working at a fast pace on the mound and trying to get my team back in the dugout to hit. I also have the mentality that no matter what the day is my stuff can compete with anyone who steps in that box and so that helps me attack the zone more. I would say my weakness is that I tend to nibble around the zone for some reason and when I walk people is when I get hurt, I have found that if I limit my walks I limit the number of runs scored on my dramatically so that was one thing I worked on in VZL, was attack attack, and attack some more.

 My most prized card would be my Nolan Ryan rookie card (graded). I received it as a gift from a friend, and it was one of the coolest gifts I’ve ever gotten. My most prized collectable would be my Nolan Ryan personal autographed baseball and my 2008 white, world series, authentic majestic, autographed Evan Longoria jersey. If you couldn’t tell my idol growing up was Nolan and it was one of my biggest dreams to be able to talk to him and shake his hand, I felt like a little kid again. I loved the way he went after people, and although he didn’t have the best command he always got it done and so I always looked up to him.