"It's amazing what God's done in my life, and how quickly He's done it."
One night, two years ago, Josh Hamilton—center fielder for the Texas Rangers—had a dream. In it, he was being interviewed after taking part in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium.
When asked about that very dream, which had seemingly come true Monday night, he answered, "I can say it was a coincidence, but I don't believe in those."
Josh doesn't waste his time on the possibilities of "coincidence" because he's been touched by a force vastly more tangible, infinitely more powerful—the hand of God.
"It's amazing what God's done in my life, and how quickly He's done it," Josh said after his historical round at the Derby. (Photo: MLB.com)
You see, when Josh had his dream of the Home Run Derby two years ago, he was still banned from major league baseball due to the tyranny of addiction which had come to rule his life.
To gain the full, remarkable scope of Josh's story of redemption, one must flashback to 1999, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays chose him as a number 1 draft pick right out of high school. His career looked promising until, after sustaining injuries from a car wreck in 2001, he was distracted by the lure of drugs and alcohol.
Before long Josh's life was spiraling out of control. He separated from his wife, and began pawning off things to feed his cocaine habit and fund his numerous tattoos.
"I went down this road where I never seemed to laugh or cry," remembers Josh.
That road eventually left him desolate on his grandmother's doorstep, but it was there that his turnaround began.
Eight trips to rehab later, and holding firm in his new-found faith in the Lord, Josh was reinstated to baseball in June of 2006, after eight months of sobriety. Playing at the lowest rung of the Minor Leagues, he was traded to Cincinnati, then to the Texas Rangers where, this season, he has already accrued 21 home runs and leads the American League in runs-batted-in (RBI).
But Monday night, Josh Hamilton—and all of Yankee Stadium—saw the dream God had given him become reality. Josh made history when, in the first round of the Home Run Derby, he sent 28 sailing baseballs into the stands, 13 of them in a row. These were LONG balls in the first degree, with three home runs reaching better than 500 feet—the greatest distance a whopping 518 feet; the third longest drive in history. And, though his final round count was not enough to surpass that of Derby winner Justin Morneau, the night was all about Josh; his inspired swings causing Yankee stadium's 53,716 fans to erupt in chants of his name.
It was obvious, however, what was really "brought home" for Josh was the way God had pulled him from the fire, and set him back on course in a life of purpose. Part of that today is speaking to young people; warning them to stay away from drugs and alcohol, and bringing a message of hope to those who've already made that mistake.
Though Josh has tried to have the many tattoos that cover his body removed for the sordid past they represent, he's reportedly found the process too painful and is resigned to living with them. But there is one tattoo—a new one—that he will not remove. A depiction of Jesus Christ on the back of his leg; a symbol of victory over addiction.
"It's like He's standing behind me, plugged into me," says Josh. "I'm not one of those guys who talks about God just because it sounds good. It's because He changed my life."
To watch an ESPN video report on Josh's inspiring night at the Home Run Derby, follow the source link provided on original BCN weblink CLICK.
