Home Run Derby

As a huge baseball fan, I took a few minutes the other night to turn on the annual Home Run Derby, which takes place the night before the All-Star game. In the venue of historic Yankee Stadium, one of my favorite players from my favorite team stepped up to the plate. A short time later, Josh Hamilton had hit 28!!! home runs in the first round of the competition. But that isn't the best part of his story.

Several years ago, Hamilton was the first overall pick in the baseball draft. He had power and promise to be a star, but that's when his problems began. Drugs and alcohol soon consumed his life, leaving him practically scarred and destitute, until his grandmother brought him around to his senses.

What makes this story so great in my eyes is the role that faith has played in his turnaround. He gives full credit to Jesus as his Lord and Savior for turning his life around. On road trips, he has a good friend filled with faith who accompanies him, to lead him in Bible Study and prayer. And every opportunity he gets, he shares his story with others.

The Texas Rangers made a good move to pick him up this past offseason. However, his story and his faith are now making him a nationwide interest story. If you would like to find out more about him, you can check out some of the past stories here.