In November 2015 Scott Snodgress went on a two-week trip to Israel.
To be where Jesus walked was instrumental in his own walk with Christ. It gave him a deep love and hunger for Scripture and a desire to “dig deeper” to understand God’s word more.
“That had a significant impact in my daily routine,” said Snodgress, a former pitcher in the major leagues who pitched for the Birmingham Barons during the 2017 season.
“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ That is something that stood out to me being there. It was a cornerstone for me with Scripture that I hadn’t experienced at that depth before in my life. The truth of God’s word and trusting in it jumped out to me,” Snodgress said. “That connection brought me deeper in my walk and my understanding of Christ.”
The trip came at a good time.
Snodgress had been released by the Los Angeles Angels a few months earlier after playing in 24 games for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League.
Identity in Christ
He wondered if baseball, a sport he loved, would continue to be part of his life or if God had something else in store. Having baseball temporarily taken away forced him to think about his identity being in Christ.
“It forced me to think about some deeper questions in life and think deeper about my faith. It got me grounded in my faith. That transformed me in a big way.”
Drafted by the Chicago White Sox organization out of Stanford University in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Snodgress played for several minor league teams in the years that followed. His career included a stint with the Birmingham Barons in the Double-A Southern League in 2013. He was 11–11 with a 4.70 ERA and 90 strikeouts.
He experienced two of his biggest baseball thrills that season. He was a mid-season Southern League All-Star, and during one game Snodgress took a no-hitter into the 9th inning before giving up a hit.
“That was an awesome experience to go that far,” he said.
‘Focused on Him’
In 2014, Snodgress again played for Birmingham where he struck out 75 batters, had a 3.89 ERA and was 6–7. He also played for Charlotte in the Triple-A International League that season. He was 0–1, had 16 strikeouts in 16 innings and an ERA of 4.96 before being called up to the White Sox.
A dream came true in September 2014 when Snodgress pitched for the first time in the majors, an experience he describes as “surreal.”
“It was something I dreamed of doing my whole life. It was awesome to have that realized,” he said.
His major-league debut was not great, however. He gave up a 2-run homer and was pulled after getting two outs, but it gave him a taste of what Major League Baseball is like. He played only four games before going back to the minors. He elected free agency in November 2017.
Throughout his life and baseball career Snodgress has claimed his favorite verses are Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
Baseball has provided a “huge” platform he said, but for now he is looking forward to marrying his fiancé, Joanna, and pursuing a firefighting career.
“I am focused on what God designs for my life, His will, running that race with endurance and keeping my eyes focused on Him,” said Snodgress.
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