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McLouth Develops Big League Faith in the Minors
By Craig Pinley
LYNCHBURG, VA (June 2, 2002) - A year after signing a professional baseball
contract, Nate McLouth is learning big league lessons about his Christian
faith in his journey through the minor leagues.
McLouth, who grew up in Whitehall, Michigan, and attended the Covenant
church there, is an outfielder with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina
League, a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Considered one of
the top prospects in the Pittsburgh organization, McLouth is gaining new
insight into his relationship with God as he struggles through his most
difficult baseball season in recent years.
After 43 games (through May 30), Lynchburg led the Carolina League's
Northern Division, but McLouth was hitting only .234, 51 points less than a
year ago. Still, the 20-year-old remains confident that major league
baseball is still a possibility, although his perspective on life has
changed markedly.
"Most kids my age are sitting in a (college) classroom, but I chose this
route because it's always been my dream to be a big leaguer," he said. "I
wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. It's definitely
not easy being a Christian in professional baseball, but I think I'm strong
enough to do the right thing and when I'm struggling, it's nice to know I
have the Lord to lead me and guide me when I don't have anyone else to talk
to."
In 2000, McLouth had finished high school baseball with an All-State season
in Michigan, having set a state record for career stolen bases with 180
while ranking third in triples (14) and eighth in homers (32). After being
signed by the Pirates in the 25th
round of the 2000 amateur draft, he spent the 2001 season in the South
Atlantic (Class A) League and batted .285, ranking him as the best hitter
for average in the Pittsburgh organization by Baseball America.
McLouth, shown here batting in a game last weekend, is playing at an
advanced level of Class A baseball and is seeing stiffer competition this
season. "There's a difference between being a good hitter and a
professional hitter," he said of the high quality of pitching he has seen.
"The higher you go, the better the command pitchers have. They're
unbelievable. But the key is the mental approach. You've got to go up to
the plate confident every at-bat and try to hit your pitch, not the pitch
the pitcher wants to get you out with."
The nomadic lifestyle of professional baseball has been a bit daunting also
and the busy schedule makes it difficult to attend church consistently.
McLouth said that another Christian player, Josh Hudnall, has been
supportive and he is thankful for the example
parents Rick and Pam have provided for he and high school-aged brothers
Chris and Jake.
"They showed me what the Christian faith is all about," McLouth said. "They
were a big influence."
Recently, McLouth has been reading Eugene Peterson's A Long Obedience in
the Same Direction, a book that stresses the importance of keeping a
long-term focus in today's quick-fix society. The lessons he is learning
seem to be helping him both on and off the field.
"The season is so long that there's time to bring the (hitting) numbers
up," McLouth said. "I'm confident that I have the tools to be a
professional hitter. And I realize the Lord is with me whether I'm 0-for-5
at bat or 5-for-5.
"I love this game, but if I don't make the big leagues, I know I have more
going for me," McLouth continued. "And it's only been after I signed (a pro
contract) and was on my own that I realized baseball wasn't the first thing
in my life. I need my Christian faith more."
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
