Putting on the Pinstripes – Matt Holliday

December 6, 2016

Growing up in a baseball family, having always been a baseball junkie, I love the history of the game. Having had the incredible opportunity to play seven years for the St. Louis Cardinals, I’m now so excited to have the chance to wear the classic pinstripes.

 

As a free agent for a short time, I went from making no decisions to having several choices to make quickly. I knew I needed to make a decision fast, but I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t just choosing where I wanted to go or what would be most comfortable for my family; the most important thing to us was that our priorities lined up with God’s plan. My prayer was that God would make it really clear to us where He wanted our family to be and that we would have a peace with whatever decision that led us to. Just as I did when I joined the Cardinals, I prayed for clarity and, just like last time, God made the path very clear to me. Having now made a decision for the 2017 season, I have a lot of peace, and ultimately I know that my security rests in the hands of God.

 

Joining the historic franchise of the New York Yankees and becoming part of its ongoing story is extremely exciting. Putting on those pinstripes and walking into Yankee stadium for my first home game in New York will be so special for me. And though I’m still trying to figure out what number I’m going to be—it seems like half the numbers have been retired—I can picture the whole thing now.

 

With the excitement of this new chapter in sight also comes the hard reality of saying goodbye to my guys. This year I’ll be heading somewhere else for spring training, I won’t be in the locker room and on the road with the same team that I’ve spent the last seven years with. I’ve realized that though my teammates on the Cardinals will always be my friends, things will never be the same again. There’s nothing like being teammates and roommates with guys who you’ve grown and become brothers with. Lately I’ve been pretty emotional thinking about the friendships and Christian community that I’ve developed with these guys. I’m so thankful for that season and I will miss it very much.

 

With a one-year contract, I want to jump into my new team and build relationships quickly. I’m excited to experience that family atmosphere, getting the most out of my time with the Yankees both emotionally and relationally, and of course I want to go in to work hard and play well. My aim is to get the best out of myself and my teammates for both our baseball careers and our spiritual growth.

 

Heading to New York, I’ll be out of my comfort zone, but I think that’s a good thing. I will go into a new city and a new team, being true to who I am as a baseball player and as a Christ-follower. As I dive into life in the biggest city in the country, I’m trusting God’s plan for my family, my career, and myself. My continued prayer is that I would be in step with God, trusting that He will take us where we need to be.

 

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” —1 Peter 4:11

 

—Matt Holliday

 

Matt Holliday is a regular contributor of The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.

 

Check out Matt’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/mattholliday/

 

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