Arizona baseball coach Drew Breivogel shared an inspirational message with one of his players as he visited him on the mound.
“I’m so proud of you,” the Arizona coach told the pitcher, according to New York Post Sports. Last Wednesday, the Arizona Little League team faced off against Kawaihau Community All-Star Little League team. During the fourth inning, Breivogel spoke to his player and reminded him that his salvation in Christ is infinitely more important than any baseball game.
“I’ve known you since you were eight. Remember Zacchaeus in the Bible? Someone planted that tree 30, 40 years prior, so he could climb up into it. Salvation. We’re talking salvation. It’s a baseball game, right?” Breivogel said.
“If you walk the next five guys, Jesus is still Lord. If you strike out the next five guys, guess what? Jesus is still Lord. I love you. Have some fun,” he emphasized.
Fans were astonished by Breivogel’s message to the pitcher.
Some took issue, saying that the young athlete didn’t need that kind of help in the moment.
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“These were always the weirdest/worst kinds of coaches when I was a kid,” someone said.
“Imagine needing advice to get out of a pitching jam, but all you get is a reminder that Jesus is still lord. ‘Coach, that’s great and all, but how should I pitch this next batter? ‘ someone else commented.
But many of the comments were positive.
“If you have EVER played high-level sports, especially baseball, you know the best thing you can do for this kid is help him get out of his own head. Redirect his thinking. Remind him it’s just a game. This is awesome! And, JESUS IS LORD,” one fan wrote.
Another commented, “There’s no better way to encourage a human being, and there’s no better way to raise a kid than by teaching them the Lord’s words.”
“Bro, look at this 😮💨 simply awesome. Thank you Lord,” someone else said.
Arizona ultimately lost to Kawaihau, Hawaii’s state champions, 5-2 during the elimination bracket last Wednesday.
Youth athletes playing sports at the elite level tend to put so much pressure on themselves that they often forget the true meaning of life. Breivogel reminded his player of just that. At the end of the day, it’s just a game, and in 30 years, the pitcher is not going to remember how he played; he’s going to remember that message from his coach.
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