The Post’s Steve Serby chatted with the 24-year-old Yankees catcher, who is starting for injured Jorge Posada.

Q: The 11-year-old boy (Matt Quinn) with leukemia that you and (Yankees special adviser/author) Ray Negron visited last May at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center?

A: He was with his dad and his mom, and he had a couple of bruises. I (talked) to him and (said), “Hey, if you stand up, I invite you to Yankee Stadium to meet my teammates . . . but you gotta stand up . . . OK? Who’s your favorite player?” He told me, “Derek Jeter.” I (said), “OK, for you to stand up, you’re gonna meet Jeter.”

Q: So what happened?

A: A week after, Ray came to my locker and said, “The chemo (is starting) to work positive.” I said, “Wow!”

Q: He and his father were able to visit you and a few of your teammates in the dugout before a playoff game with the Twins?

A: He (said), “Hey, I go to school in January! I’m excited, I’m good!”

Q: Have you seen him lately?

A: No, he came to Tampa to watch that (spring training) game, but I was in my sister’s wedding, so maybe I’m gonna see him sometime this week, I don’t know when. . . . I always talk to Ray and I want to know about him, he always (says) he’s good (Matt is in remission). . . . Special kid.

Q: So you had an effect on his life?

A: I think so. And that’s another good thing about (being) a Yankee. You can do a lot of things, you know? It’s not just buy cars or do a lot of things. . . . You can help people, and the people love what you do.

Q: Why are you so popular with Yankees fans?

A: I don’t know . . . maybe the energy or something like that (chuckles).

Q: Maybe one reason is when you wear that big helmet, you look like a little kid.

A: (Chuckles) Maybe, maybe. A lot of people have told me, “That’s embarrassing.” I say, “No, nothing big league is embarrassing. It’s not the way you look, it’s how you do in the field.”

Q: What was it like sitting in the dugout inactive for the World Series?

A: They (made) me feel like I was part of the team, especially the manager (Joe Girardi). He told me, “We’re gonna take you out in the World Series, but if somebody’s hurt, you’re the next guy.” I celebrate, I enjoy like A-Rod, like Jeter, like everybody (smiles).

Q: How exciting was it in the dugout?

A: Wow! When (Shane) Victorino hit a groundball to second base, I think I was the first guy running to the mound. . . . It’s something you that you gotta enjoy, because you don’t know if that’s gonna happen again.

Q: How often do you speak to your father (Manuel)?

A: I speak with him every day. I gotta talk to my mom (Damelis) before the game every time.

Q: They’re in Valencia?

A: Valencia, Venezuela.

Q: What does your mom tell you?

A: My mom (says), “Good luck, I hope today’s better than yesterday,” and “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Q: And after every game you talk to your dad?

A: Yeah, he always (says), “Hey, you’re my hero, I love you, and I want to see you and miss you.”

Q: What motivates you?

A: First of all my family — I want to bring my family here. My country is really dangerous. We got a real bad time right now . . . about security, politics, everything . . . .and I want to feel 100 percent safe with them because they’re everything in my life. And second, I want to make a big foundation with my grandma’s name, that’s Flora Maria Navarro, and help a lot of poor people in Venezuela.

Q: In what way is it dangerous?

A: Kidnapping. . . . I think in my city, in 48 hours, maybe 25 people got killed . . . every weekend.

Q: Scouting report on how Francisco Cervelli plays?

A: Energy, energy and energy, that’s it.

Q: Where do you get your energy from?

A: I don’t know, I think that’s forever. I love this sport and I play with passion, and being around a lot of people, they always tell me, “Play like it’s the last day in your life all the time.”

Q: Do you talk to batters behind the plate?

A: Yeah.

Q: Does it bother them?

A: Maybe, I don’t know. . . . Sometimes I talk about stupid things and maybe they don’t concentrate 100 percent.

Q: Let’s say I’m in the batter’s box, what would you tell me?

A: (Marco) Scutaro, from Boston? I tried to talk in Italian. Stupid things like, “Hey, if you get to first base, try to steal . . . I’m gonna get you out.”

Q: Did he answer you back in Italian?

A: Oh yeah . . . bad words (laughs).

Q: Do you like it when they do talk or they don’t talk to you?

A: When they don’t talk.

Q: Why?

A: I think they’re a little mad, or they don’t like it. And you know what? Home plate is my house. So you come to home plate, you’re gonna visit my house. That’s my house.

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: Melvin Mora.

Q: Who plays like you on other teams?

A: Nick Punto . . . (Dustin) Pedroia.

Q: Ideal girl?

A: Independent, smart, big heart, beautiful. . . . I know it’s tough for girls being with a baseball player ’cause we spend a lot of time away, but when they want to enjoy and live the life with us, it’s special.

Q: Best thing Jorge Posada has taught you?

A: He (says), “I’m 38, and I feel like 20.” He (says), “I never stop work in my life.” So if you want to be a starting catcher, or play for 15, 17 years, you gotta work, work, work and work.

Q: So you want to play for 15, 17 years?

A: Yes sir. And I think I want to look like him when I’m 38 years old . . . (he’s) got a better body than me.

Q: Advice from Yogi?

A: The other day he told me, “Hey, give a little target, put your knee in the dirt (chuckles) . . .”

Q: What is Derek Jeter like?

A: You need something, if you got a question, just go to his locker and he’s got (an) answer for you.

Q: Alex Rodriguez?

A: I think he’s the smart player (I’ve) ever seen in my life . . . (he’s) got information about everything. He (says), “When I was your age, I had 100 questions every day for Stan Javier, for Jay Buhner, Ken Griffey, Edgar Martinez . . . 100 questions. It’s the only way you can learn.” And (I’ve) got 100 questions for him every day too. If you see, in the dugout, I spend more time with him than anybody, ’cause he’s worried about everything, and he tries to win all the time.

Q: Why do the pitchers like to throw to you?

A: Maybe (we’ve) got a good communication.

Q: Catchers you like to watch?

A: Jason Varitek . . . the way he calls games . . . the way he communicates with the pitcher, is something impressive. And I like to watch the whole three Molinas (chuckles).

Q: Favorite NYC things?

A: I like to walk Times Square.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Sandra Bullock; Andrea Boccelli; Gaby Espino.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Wedding Crashers.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Denzel Washington.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Pasta.

Q: Do you have a favorite Italian restaurant in New York yet?

A: Not yet, but I like the Little Italy.

Q: What would you want Yankees fans to say about you?

A: (He’s) got passion. . . . He likes to play baseball. . . . He’s not here for money or for another thing. . . . He just wants to win and have fun.