By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion Unplugged
ARLINGTON, Texas — Minutes after a 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on a recent Thursday, Texas Rangers players streamed out of the first-base dugout at Globe Life Field.
Casually attired in blue Rangers T-shirts and shorts, they strolled across the green outfield turf toward the right-center field bullpen. In the area normally reserved for relief pitchers to warm up, the teammates huddled together, bowed their heads and prayed.
Most of the 30,606 fans who paid to see that afternoon’s game had already left the ballpark. But hundreds — perhaps 1,000 to 1,500 in all — stayed to hear their Major League Baseball heroes talk about faith in Jesus.
“I came over here from New York and am really, really glad to be here in Texas, where we have Faith Night,” outfielder Brandon Nimmo, one of eight Rangers players who spoke, told the crowd. “So you guys are really fortunate, first and foremost, to live where this is appreciated and this is a big deal.
“Because in our country,” the 33-year-old slugger added, “there’s a lot of places where this is not appreciated, where this is not a big deal.”
Related: Jesus in the clubhouse: MLB players open up about their faith
Nimmo, a New York Mets fan favorite traded to Texas this past offseason, alluded to Christ’s claim that he came to Earth to save the world from its sins.
“Honestly, if what Jesus said is true, then this is the most important thing in life,” Nimmo said. “It is one or the other, right? It’s either worth nothing or it’s worth everything. And I believe with all of my heart that it’s worth everything.”
Along with Nimmo, infielders Josh Jung and Cody Freeman, outfielders Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford and pitchers Jalen Beeks, Cody Bradford and Jacob Latz grabbed seats in tall chairs facing fans who filled two lower-level outfield sections.
Rangers’ wives and children also mingled under the bright lights, along with about a dozen players and coaches who did not take the microphone.
Those joining the gathering included Texas manager Skip Schumaker, who has an arm tattoo featuring a Christian cross, and infielder Ezequiel Duran, who displays a Scripture reference on an undershirt he often wears with his jersey.
This column appears in the online magazine Religion Unplugged.
Photo courtesy of the Texas Rangers
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 