By Mallory Mattingly
Just three weeks into the start of the MLB season, the San Diego Padres find themselves at the top of the National League West, thanks, in large part, to outfielder Gavin Sheets.
Sheets has not only garnered 12 hits and eight RBIs but has also boldly declared his faith in Jesus as the reason for his success.
While on an episode of the “Sports Spectrum Podcast” earlier this year, Sheets explained that “not making baseball my idol was the biggest thing” for him this season.
“Being a man of faith in the clubhouse, leading guys in Bible study, leading guys in chapel, speaking on what was actually important in my life,” Sheets continued. “Obviously baseball is a huge part of my life and it is very important to me, but it’s not everything. And being able to separate the results and the statistics with leading a Bible study, getting guys to [the White Sox’s Faith and Family Day], getting guys to chapel, walking guys in their faith.”
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“As difficult as it was at times to separate those two things, I think that when you take a step back from the season and you look back at things like Faith and Family and seeing guys that grew to Christ, you realize that the season wasn’t a failure in the grand scheme of life,” he added.
Later on in the podcast, Sheets told Matt Forte who Jesus is to him.
“Jesus Christ is my Savior,” the athlete said. “He’s my Savior, He’s my Friend, He’s my Father. He’s everything that you want a man to be in your life. He’s my everything — when I’m in need, when I’m giving grace, when I’m giving thanks. He’s there when I’m at my highest of high and my lowest of low. Without Him — we don’t go through anything alone. He’s everything to me.”
Related: Why Jesus Is ‘Everything’ to This White Sox First Baseman
Sheets also uses his social media platforms as an opportunity to let people know who his Savior is. Sheets writes “To God be the Glory” in both his X and Instagram bios.
In his first four years in the MLB, Sheets played for Chicago White Sox and ended lasted year hitting .233. Now in his first season with the Padres, he already has a .316 batting average.
“We have our superstars here,” Sheets said in an interview with MLB.com. “I knew that I wasn’t coming in to be a superstar. I was coming in to add depth and lengthen the lineup out as long as possible, come off the bench if needed, just do whatever.”
Sheets and the San Deigo Padres defeated the Chicago Cubs Monday night 10-4. As the season progresses, Sheets looks to continue his hot streak in the batter’s box while proclaiming his faith in God.
Read Next: How This White Sox Star Discovered What a Relationship With Christ Really Means
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