Quotes from Eddy Alvarez

I've never been in a situation where winning was the only goal, that no individual stat mattered.

There's a lot of sacrifices I've made in this life, in my athletic career.

At some times, my first go-round in the Olympics got a little overwhelming.

I owe so much to my parents, to my family.

I didn't have a parade of teams wanting to sign me, that's for sure.

Baseball, once I got to the Major Leagues, I told myself, 'Now it's begun.'

My personal goal is to go off. I'm gonna do everything in my power to win games and I know all the other guys around me are in the same boat. Whatever it takes.

There was that feeling of standing on the podium and listening to someone else's national anthem that really sucked.

It was the first time I'd picked up a bat and ball in three years, and it turned out to be a breakout season for me. I was named to the All-Conference team and nominated for All-American.

Surgery was the most challenging scenario I ever had to face. Being bed-ridden for four weeks and not being able to walk for eight, I definitely had the lowest point in my life.

Baseball has been something that's always been in my blood. It was just something I was bound to do no matter what. I was going to play baseball.

At the end of the day, standing on the Olympic podium on the top is what we're all really searching for here.

It's a tough pill to swallow, when you come so close to winning and you fall short.

My college coach was like, 'You ever thought of switch hitting,' and I was like, 'You know, I thought about it but I never really tried it.'

To hold Old Glory, a symbol of freedom and liberty to many around the world, not just in the United States, this one means a lot.

I'm a firm believer that positive thinking creates positive results.

We all deal with our inner pessimist. We just try to find as much positivity as we can find.

Since I was a kid, I've always been able to copy the mannerisms and body language of everyone around me.

I've been able to accomplish goals that I set for myself, where in countries like Cuba you just don't get those opportunities.

I remember after the Games I was lifting weights with propane tanks on them, and getting to experience opening ceremonies again was something I dreamed of every day.

Even though I was 110 pounds wet in high school and had no attention from any major schools, I always had a little bit of fight in me. There was always a dog in there, too.

I'm one of those people that develop late, so what if these are my peak years in baseball? I would never know unless I put myself out there, and if I fail, I fail.

I am a prime example of what the American dream is.

Playing pro baseball has definitely been a goal of mine.