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The 700 Club with Pat Robertson


AMAZING STORY

Atlanta Braves Starter Tim Hudson Takes The Mound

By Shawn Brown
The 700 Club

CBN.com - Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson is at the top of his game. The 12 year vet has been turning heads with his sinker and cutter pitches since he debuted with the Oakland A’s in 1999. He credits all of his success to his relationship with Jesus Christ. “You know I felt the Lord at a young age. And it was one of those things where that seed was planted you know when I was a kid.”

Tim has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember. After a stellar high school career, he was told he was too small to pitch in college, let alone the big leagues. “I always knew that I was a small guy. But I always knew that I was one of the better guys on the field regardless of my size. And it wasn’t that I was cocky. I just knew that I would let the talents that God has blessed me with, show on the field.”

Tim began his college career at a local two year school. He helped lead his team to a Division II Championship; a feat that moved Auburn University to recruit him to play his last two years there. “I just let my talents and the ability that God blessed me with just take over. And just play and have fun. You know the one thing my dad always told me is, ‘Just go out there and have fun. Play hard and give it all you’ve got and good things will happen.’ And that’s what I did.”

Tim had an exceptional career at Auburn. After his senior year, he was selected by Oakland during the 1997 MLB draft. Within 6 seasons, he became a two time all star. After the 2004 season, Tim was traded to his childhood team, the Atlanta Braves. “The Oakland A’s, I loved all my teammates there. I loved all the coaches. They gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues. And for that, I thank them. I mean it was a dream come true for me. But on the flip side of that I got a chance to be traded to a team that I grew up pulling for. You know, I was a huge fan of Bobby Cox, a huge fan of Chipper Jones, and John Smoltz. And just those guys, I grew up watching those guys and often wondered early on in my career if I would ever have the chance to play for the Atlanta Braves and there it was. God kind of answered my prayers. It was exciting. It was really exciting. You get here and put this uniform on and to come into Turner Field and to see all the fans doing the Tomahawk chop and having the opportunity for all my friends and family from back home drive an hour and a half to come up here to watch me play was something that was very special.”

Tim is in his 8th season with the Braves and in hot pursuit of a pennant. But he says though the goal of the team is to win a championship his personal goal is to glorify God by being an example for others. 

 “It’s been one of those things, where anybody that’s played a sport at the professional level there’s always a lot of challenges. And the one thing that’s always been a constant for me is Jesus Christ and my faith - and just knowing that my walk with Christ is steadily going up. You know, I’m not where I want to be, by any means. I don’t think anybody is.  And not only that, but just being an example for other players, my teammates, my friends from home. You know I think it’s one of those things where you need to be a beacon of light and just shine on people.”

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