Resurrection Stories (Bot9 #296)

After a decorated amateur baseball career, Rick Ankiel was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round in 1997. Just two years later, he was named Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year. In his rookie campaign in 2000, he went 11-7 on the mound with a 3.50 ERA and 194 strikeouts, and finished second in the National League’s Rookie of the Year voting.

And then this happened.

In a “Letter to My Younger Self” article for The Player’s Tribune, Ankiel explained the many things going through his head in the moment. According the an article from Psychology Today by Dr. Rober Mather, Ankiel “described becoming aware of the millions of people across the nation who saw him throw the first wild pitch. He described thinking of his family, friends, hometown, and teammates who he had let down with the first wild pitch.”

Ankiel would only throw 34 more innings in the major leagues, walking 26 and surrendering 25 runs in those innings. According to an article in USA Today, Ankiel drank straight from a bottle of vodka before a game in 2001 in an attempt to calm his nerves. By 2004, it appeared his career was over at 24 years of age.

But something crazy happened three years later. In 2007, Rick Ankiel returned to the major leagues as an outfielder. He hit 11 home runs and drove in 39 runs in 47 games. One year later, he would blast 25 home runs on his way to signing a multi-million dollar contract. After it appeared his baseball was left for dead, Ankiel would finish his baseball life with over $11 million in career earnings. Only Ankiel and Babe Ruth won 10 games as a pitcher, hit 70 home runs, started a postseason game as a pitcher and hit a home run in the postseason as a position player in the big leagues.

Ankiel’s baseball story is an example of the opportunity for hope we all have when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. We all experience many things in life’s journey, and a number of people even achieve their dreams like Ankiel did. But we also experience days or seasons of our life which resemble Ankiel’s day with five wild pitches. Only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ can we experience a life transformation as amazing as Ankiel’s baseball transformation.

While few have the ability to play in the big leagues or put their name in the record books next to Babe Ruth, every man, woman and child can experience a life transformation worthy of their name being written in the Book of Life. All it takes is a choice to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God. To believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead. To confess and ask forgiveness for your sins, and invite Jesus to come into your life. To trust Christ and follow His teachings as your Lord and Savior.

May all of us who take the baseball field this year experience the transformation promised to all mankind through Jesus!