August/September 2008

Perhaps more than any other sport, Major League Baseball often becomes a family business. It’s not unusual for sons to follow in the footsteps of Major League dads or for brothers to pursue similar dreams on the diamond. What is rare, however, is for those Big League dreams to be realized by all of the sons in one family. The story of the three Drew boys from Hahira, Ga., is one of baseball’s current legends in the making. J.D., Tim and Stephen, who grew up playing front-yard baseball games in southern Georgia, all pursued that risky career path of baseball. And all three made it.
 
Two of them, in fact, very nearly met each other in the Major League postseason last year as both Stephen’s Arizona Diamondbacks and J.D.’s Boston Red Sox reached their respective NL and AL Championship Series before the D-backs were eliminated by the Colorado Rockies.

Even though Tim, a former big league pitcher, is currently rehabbing in the independent Atlantic League, all three Drew boys have spent significant time in the Major League spotlight. And the massive microscope under which they live has taught each of them a great deal about each other, about life and about the Savior for which they do it all.

That’s right. The most influential characteristic shared by these men has little to do with baseball and everything to do with Jesus Christ. Raised in a strong Christian home, each Drew has submitted his life to the Lord and is pursuing baseball as an act of worship and obedience to Him.

To gear up for the final weeks of the MLB regular season (just in case the Red Sox or D-Backs make another run at the title), STV spent time getting to know the famous Drew boys. We put together a handy A-to-Z Guide to help you do the same.

B is for Blessed. Says Tim: “Our family’s been blessed. We try to represent Christ the best that we can, and we have our flaws just like anybody else, but I truly believe that God has used my family in the game and for that very purpose. I hope that He continues to be glorified through all that we go through.”

D is for David Jonathan, J.D.’s full name.

E is for Example. J.D. set a positive one for his brothers. Says Tim: “We grew up watching J.D. I think that is how it is in most families. He was the older child of the family, so obviously Stephen and I followed in his footsteps. We watched his every move. Based on that, I really try to iterate to the younger people that there is always somebody watching you. We always watched J.D. and how he lived. Watching him making the right decisions throughout high school and college really impacted my life, and I think Stephen would say the same.”

F is for Florida State University, where both J.D. and Stephen played college baseball.

G is for Going Yard. Last fall, J.D. and Stephen became only the third set of brothers to hit home runs in the same postseason.

H is for Hahira, the boys’ hometown in southern Georgia.

I is for Independent. The Atlantic League hosts Tim’s Bridgeport Bluefish.

J is for Judgmental. Stephen’s advice to Christian student-athletes is to be a good listener and avoid judging others. “In this game there are a lot of people with different backgrounds,” he says. “They might be a young Christian; they might be a non-believer who will come around. Maybe God’s really speaking into their heart. But in those situations where you see him doing wrong, don’t go over there with his friends and confront him. At the end of the day, get him alone and talk to him. Just don’t be judgmental; be a great listener. Listen before you speak. Everybody can speak, but it’s hard to listen.”

K is for Ks. As a pitcher, Tim is able to tally these on the scoreboard.

L is for Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga., from which all three Drews graduated.

M is for Mindset. J.D.’s best advice for young athletes is to keep their minds focused on what’s important. “Stay firm in our faith,” he says, “because God is going to be the one thing that is true, and true forever. Baseball is going to leave me. The world is going to be gone one day. But I know that if I set my eternal goals in Heaven, that’s where things are going to pay off.”

N is for No. 1. According to Tim, Christ should hold that place in our lives. “The biggest thing is to stay focused on Christ and the task at hand,” he says. “Realize that you are playing for Christ and Christ alone. I know that’s a cliché you hear from a lot of Christian athletes, but remember Colossians 3:23 (NIV), which says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.’ I totally believe that needs to be our number-one focus: to glorify God and play for Him alone. Just really stress that and then let Christ use you where you’re at.”

O is for Open Doors. According to Stephen, J.D.’s success opened doors for him and Tim that helped them reach the highest level of play. “When I was younger, I realized that it was great that J.D. led the way,” he says. “Because he was the oldest brother and was talented, people would come watch us. Everybody wants to play a sport when they grow up, but you kind of find your talent out as you grow in life. I knew I had a special talent God had given me, and so did J.D. and Tim. We still had to prove ourselves, and it was tough sometimes, but it was great.”

Q is for Quadruple Honors. J.D. won four national awards in 1997 as a college senior: the Dick Howser Trophy, the Golden Spikes Award, Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year and The Sporting News Player of the Year.

R is for Romans 10:9 (NIV). Both J.D. and Stephen cite this as their favorite Bible verse. It says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

S is for Sibling Rivalry. Says J.D.: “We fought like siblings and had that kind of rivalry, but it was good, because  ultimately our lives were going in the right direction.”

T is for Trust. Tim is currently trusting God’s plan for his life. “I think people are waiting to see how I am going to respond because J.D. and Stephen have been able to excel in being able to stay in the big leagues. But I look at it as God giving me the chance to be able to persevere. I am thankful to have two brothers who love the Lord and are such an encouragement to one another, but I just praise God that I have a Savior who loves me and knows what’s right for me. And I am content because I know that I’m doing everything I can. “Even in my injury right now, being at 85 percent coming back from shoulder surgery, I’m just here to glorify Him and have a good time regardless of if I make it back to the big leagues or not. You take that into account and realize that life is so short here on Earth, and we have something greater to look forward to. And that’s my hope. As long as I can be a light here, I know I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. And when you are in God’s will, there’s no greater place to be.”

U is for Understanding. Having the same profession, the boys all can identify with each other. Says Stephen: “In this game, you can get caught up in life here at this level, and it’s really nice to have two older brothers who have gone through it and understand.”

W is for World Series, which J.D. and the Boston Red Sox won in 2007.

X is for X-pectations. Stephen learned how to handle expectations by growing up behind successful older brothers. This lesson helps him handle life on the field today. “There are expectations every time you step up to the plate,” he says, “and 70 percent of the time you’re failing. Going 1-3 for the day and batting .333 is still succeeding. It puts it in perspective because when you sit back and read the Word, it helps you not get caught up in baseball. It’s a game. It’s a job, but it’s still a game. And I try to leave it on the field. You play hard, and when the day is done, you go home and you have a family.”

Y is for Years. The time Tim has spent rehabbing from injury has been some of the most fruitful in his spiritual life. “The last few years going through my surgery, I’ve gotten to see many teammates come to Christ,” he says. “Not because of anything I’ve done—God gets all the glory for that—but just being able to be a part of these teams and seeing guys come to Christ. If I wouldn’t have gone through my surgery or bounced around to these places, I wouldn’t have been a part of that. When you  experience that, you start to realize that God has a greater purpose than just baseball.”

Z is for AriZona, Stephen’s current team. (We’re asking for a break on this one. Z is harsh!)