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I recently caught up with Adrian Nieto, the Nationals 5th round draft pick in 2008. Adrian was considered one of the top prep catching prospects in the Draft. The switch-hitter hit .217 in 8 games with the Gulf Coast League Nationals this August, collecting 5 hits, 3 doubles and 3 RBI. He is represented by Joshua Kusnick of Double Diamond Sports Management, who was kind enough to set up this Q&A.

Q. How was your experience in the Gulf Coast League and in the Instructional League this past summer?

A. Well, it was a fun experience. It was my chance to get my feet wet in professional baseball. It just was more like a learning experience. You know, how to have a routine, learning how to be in the clubhouse, being around other guys. It was a fun experience.

The instructional league was another experience too. Because you have guys from all levels, high A, low A, rookie ball, the guys that were with me there. The other prospects, they really impressed me, especially the ones that signed earlier. They looked like almost bigger, you know what I'm saying? Those guys that signed late, they were still kind of walking through, like me. But the other guys, the guys that signed earlier, they looked like they had more of an idea what to do. I picked it up quick at the end. You know, it was a nice experience.

Q. Did you catch anyone that impressed you?

A. (Cole) Kimball...His curveball is pretty impressive.

Q. How did you become a switch-hitter and can you describe your approach at the plate from both sides?

A. I became a switch hitter because my friend had the Ken Griffey Swing Away, something like that, I'm not sure what it's called. He was a lefty. I was right handed at the time. I was about 8 or 9. And every time it was my turn to hit, it would take like a good 10 minutes to take the thing off and switch it for a righty. So I just told him, I'll just hit left handed. I'll swing lefty. I told my dad the next day, "I want to start lefty." He said then just do it. And everyday, I was like lefty, lefty, lefty, lefty. And then the first game I played, when I hit lefty, I went three for three with three home runs. So, I thought, this is going to work. In the league, I go one at bat righty and the next at bat I go lefty and I switch every other time. My approach is the same. Waiting for your pitch, just be patient and try to get a good pitch to hit.

Q. Is there an aspect of your game that you are working on? Have any of the coaches or advisers in the organization been particularly helpful with advice or insight?

A. Yea, right now I'm working on - when I'm hitting, I'm working on having more balance at the plate. Catching-wise, just being more soft with the receiving and my footwork, (keeping it) nice and short, not too long, cause these guys are very fast, it's a lot different than high school.

The guy that helped me a lot is Bobby Henley. Everything he tells me, it makes so much sense and it's so easy. He's just a great teacher and a good guy to have in that position. He's helped me out a lot.

Q. Can you tell me about the day you were drafted? What was the experience like for you and your family?

A. Draft day was a fun experience. One of my goals was Major League and I've been waiting for that day since my freshman year in high school. And finally I got what I wanted, to become a professional player, and taking the first steps to becoming a Major Leaguer. That's my ultimate goal, to become a Major Leaguer, so it was a good experience for me, my family and my agent, Joshua.

Q. When did you know you could really have the opportunity to become a professional baseball player?

A. Deep down, probably my freshman or sophomore year when everybody was impressed with me. I was only a freshman starting on varsity and the things I was doing. Ever since I was small and I watched those guys play on TV, I told my parents I was going to be a professional baseball player. But when you're that small, everybody just laughs at you. But deep down inside, it was my freshman and sophomore years when I was doing things no freshman was doing. Everybody thought I was a senior or a junior my freshman year, but deep down I knew I was going to be a professional baseball player.

My parents believed me ever since I was small. My dad was in baseball ever since he was 14 or 13, and he said that what he saw in me, he didn't see it in a lot of guys and he was very impressed. My mom, she's always been supportive. She's not really one of those parents that goes crazy with this stuff, she just sits back and watches the game. The same thing with my dad, but they believed me since the first day I said it.

Q. What do you remember about the experience of coming to the United States?

A. I came over [from Cuba] on a raft when I was four years old. It was a crazy experience being out in the middle of the ocean with a tiny little boat. It was about 20 feet and we had like 22 or 23 people, definitely overloaded. I'll never forget that day. We were on the ocean for 13 hours. But, honestly, it was worth it. If I had to do it over again, I would do it again. This country has given me what my old country wouldn't have given me: an experience to accomplish my dreams. One of my goals that I haven't done yet, I didn't get to do in high school, was to play for Team U.S.A. and that's one of those things I really want to do besides become a Major Leaguer. I want to play for Team U.S.A. and right now I'm in the middle of the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Q. How is the citizenship process going?

A. It's going good. I filled out all the paperwork and I'm just waiting for them to give me a date to take the exam. And then I will just wait 'till they take care of all that, but that's one of my other dreams besides playing Major League Baseball, is to be a citizen and play for Team U.S.A. I feel like I owe something to this country because they've given me such a big opportunity.

Q. Are you superstitious? Do you have any special routines on the field or before a game?

A. I'm very superstitious. If a routine is working for me, I'm going to stick to it until I stop hitting or playing well. If I'm using a certain bat, I'm going to keep using that certain bat. If I'm using certain batting gloves, I'm going to keep using those batting gloves. At Nationals, I used the same pair of socks for like 4-5 weeks. They stink, but you know what, it was good. I was hitting and and I was getting it done.

Q. What do you like to do when you're not playing baseball?

A. I just hang out with my friends and I'm working out, trying to get stronger. I've been away for awhile, so when I get the chance, I hang out with my friends. We go to the movies. Most of the time, I'm playing video games. I love playing Xbox. That's all that I do when I'm up there--long times during the season when I'm in my room, I just play Xbox all day. It relaxes me.

Q. What's your favorite thing about the holiday season? Do you have any special traditions with your family?

A. Most of my family is back in Cuba, like 85% of them. So I just talk to them every once in awhile, once or twice a month and check how they are doing. I just spend as much time as I can with my parents. That's pretty much all I have here is mom and dad. I love them a lot because of all the sacrifices they've done for me. I just love them to death.

Q. Growing up, did you have a baseball hero you looked up to?

A. My favorite baseball player is Pudge Rodriguez. But the guy I really look up to is Derek Jeter, because he's such a big role model, not only on the field but off the field. And he's never really had any problems off the field with controversy or anything like that. He just does everything right. I look up to him because of that. And I want to be like that too. I want to be team captain one day. He's got his own charity too and that's something I would like to have. That's sort of the guy I look up to. My favorite player is Pudge, but I really want to be more of a person or role model like Derek Jeter.

Q. What are your goals for the 2009 season? Are you looking forward to your first Spring Training?

A. Yeah, I definitely am, especially to see the guys and stuff like that. And you know, it's a first. You're never going to forget your first Spring Training. I'm really looking forward to it, to becoming a better baseball player and to make progress, getting closer toward my ultimate dream of becoming a Major Leaguer. (I) just need to get better, every year get a little bit better and try to be one of the best at my position.

Q. Do you have any idea what level you'd like to be assigned to next season?

A. If it was up to me, I would like to play in the Major Leagues. [Laughter] But I've only played in a few games. It all depends on how I do in Spring Training. I really can't control that. All I can control is how I play on the field. I'll control that and let everything else happen and take care of itself.

Q. Is there anyone you're really looking forward to meeting at spring training?

A. Not really. I went up there and those guys were really cool. They were really nice guys. When I went in the clubhouse, Wily Mo Pena and Cristian Guzman were really nice. The guy I really, really like is Dmitri Young. He is a super nice guy.

Q. What did you think of Nationals Park?

A. I went up there twice. It's gorgeous and the fans are awesome too. No matter how the team was doing, they were supportive. That I did see. They aren't like the Marlins fans that jump on the bandwagon when they are doing good. I literally live 5 or 10 minutes from their stadium. But, Washington Nationals fans are totally different. They always support their team and they are passionate about their baseball team.

Q. Is there anything else you want Nationals fans to know about you?

A. I'm really looking forward to being on the Major League team, hopefully soon, and making them a winner and a contender every year -- bringing them that first championship for all the fans up there because like I said they are really supportive and they deserve that. I really want to be part of that first championship team up there.