20 questions with Nick Evangelista

MiLB.com: You grew up in Reading, Pa., and now play for the Reading Phillies. How cool is it playing in your hometown?

Nick Evangelista: I grew up right outside Reading my whole life. My parents had Reading Phillies season tickets and I was a huge [Philadelphia] Phillies fan, so now it's great being home.

MiLB.com: How often do your parents come out to see you pitch?

NE: As often as they can, and they've even come on some of the shorter road trips like Trenton and Connecticut. It's nice they see me play because it was something they couldn't do my first two years in the Minors.

MiLB.com: Seems like your parents are pretty dedicated. Are there any siblings in your house?

NE: I have an older sister who's 6 years older than me who also lives in town. What's cool is my 4-year-old nephew now comes out to all the games he can so I get to spend more time with him since I missed a lot of time during his first two years.

MiLB.com: So your house is only 10 minutes from the ballpark. How often are you home eating your mom's food?

NE: (Laughs) Usually on Sundays I'll go home for a family meal, but for the most part it's tough because baseball kind of takes over my daily routine even though I'm close to home.

MiLB.com: What's the connection between you and the team's radio broadcaster?

NE: He was my basketball and soccer coach in junior high (laughs).

MiLB.com: You have a certain comfort level here in Reading, do you think that gives you a bit of an advantage when you're pitching?

NE: I wouldn't call it an advantage, but I definitely was comfortable with my settings when I first got here, which may have taken the guys a little longer. My biggest thing was to get to know my teammates.

MiLB.com: How did you propose to your fiancé?

NE: I was in Clearwater for a four-day training camp, and I brought her with me. Well, what happened, I found out I needed elbow surgery and it would have to be the morning of the same day I wanted to propose, so I had to improvise.

MiLB.com: So what did you do?

NE: So since I couldn't do it the night I wanted, I had to figure out where I wanted to do it. It ended up just being at the hotel we were staying at. It was great, she thought it was a four-day vacation and she got engaged and watched me have unexpected surgery.

MiLB.com: What happened with your surgery?

NE: I had bone spurs and bone chips in my elbow. I was out for about three months, but throwing after one so I was ready to play completely after three solid months.

MiLB.com: You've been home sick with strep throat for the past week or so, are you getting spoiled being so close to your parents' house?

NE: Well, I gotta say I was being taken care of pretty well (laughs) -- maybe a little too well -- and that's why it took me so long to get better.

MiLB.com: What's your best baseball moment?

NE: When I was drafted by the Phillies and given the opportunity to play in my hometown

MiLB.com: Talk about the day you were drafted.

NE: It was pretty quiet really. I wasn't drafted in the first day and on day two I was out golfing with my best friend, and the Phillies called and said they were taking me. Later that day they did it.

MiLB.com: Talk about what was going through your mind when you first took the mound in front of your hometown crowd.

NE:It was a combination of excitement and nerves. I was happy to go out and give my team the chance to win, but it was a bit nerve-racking.

MiLB.com: And what happened during that first game?

NE: I threw two scoreless innings, but we lost, 5-1. It was 5-1 when I entered the game, though.

MiLB.com: What's your biggest pet peeve?

NE: Oh man, I'm really laid back -- I don't think I have any.

MiLB.com: Who were your idols growing up?

NE: I grew up a Phillies fan and really remember loving the days of Curt Schilling and the hard-nosed club he had around him.

MiLB.com: If you could play one big-league game, where would it be?

NE: Philly. Wow, I bet you weren't expecting that one, huh?

MiLB.com: What's your favorite Minor League promotion?

NE: I like when they poll the Reading Phillies players, and then the fans will guess what our answers would be. It's interesting to see what they're take on us is.

MiLB.com: Who were your biggest baseball and non-baseball influences?

NE: Non-baseball would be my parents. They are always there for me. Baseball would be my dad, he taught me the game as best he knew it.

MiLB.com: What advice are you giving to young players trying to get where you are?

NE: Hard work and dedication are the two things I try to live my baseball life with. If you're given the chance to do something like this, it will be because of hard work and dedication.