Coming to The Post was an incredible opportunity. I grew up all over the world because of my father’s job, but this area was always home and we moved back here often. Sports editor Matt Vita took a chance on me, hiring me from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, where I covered local news but had experience and an interest in covering sports.

I learned so much from my high school sports colleagues, everyone from Matt Brooks to former Posties Josh Barr, Alan Goldenbach, Preston Williams and Paul Tenorio. I was moved to the Nationals beat in the middle of the 2012 season. Baseball has always been a part of my life. My mom is from Nicaragua, where baseball is the national sport and in the fabric of the culture. The same was true in other parts of Latin America where I lived. As a bilingual baseball reporter, I took a particular interest in giving a voice to the Latino players who didn’t have one or couldn’t express themselves as comfortably.

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I watched the Nationals grow into a division winner and a contender in 2012, and then endure exhilarating highs and heart-breaking lows over the next four years. The team’s profile grew along with its young players, such as Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon. So much has happened since 2012 it’s a blur. I took pride in providing not only the day-to-day news but the behind-the-scenes happenings and off-beat stories that humanized a grueling and fascinating sport.

Covering baseball is a grind, but I’m forever indebted to the kindness and help of Adam Kilgore, Barry Svrluga, Thomas Boswell and Dave Sheinin, all tremendous baseball writers. My baseball editors over the years were helpful and patient: Tracee Hamilton, Lindsay Appelbaum and Alexa Steele. There are too many others to thank for helping me along the way.