One of the major leagues’ top young prospects, Norris seeks to give all the glory to God.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
DETROIT — The 16-year-old pitching phenom stepped into the baptistery wearing his high school baseball uniform.
Fresh dirt stains splotched his white uniform pants as Daniel Norris crept barefoot into the water to confess his faith in Jesus Christ and be immersed for the forgiveness of sins.
The hard-throwing lefty’s brother-in-law put his hand on Norris’ shoulder — just above the bright red No. 18 on his dark jersey top — and reflected on the significance of the choice.
“This is something that Daniel has been thinking about, and a lot of people have been praying about, for a long time,” Tim Haywood told a small group of family and friends at the Central Church of Christ, Norris’ home congregation in the East Tennessee mountain community of Johnson City. “In just a few moments, he’s not just going to be my brother-in-law anymore, but he’s going to be my brother.”
Norris, now 22 and a starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, made the decision to be baptized after a regional tournament win for his hometown Science Hill High School, where he also starred in football and basketball.
Related column: Take me out to the ballgame
These stories appear in the October 2015 print edition of The Christian Chronicle.
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