AMAZING STORY
Young MLB Star Plays for God
By Shawn Brown
The 700 Club
CBN.com - “To tell you the truth, I didn’t think I would ever be able to play major league baseball – EVER.” When Ben Revere was selected in the 1st round of the 2007 MLB (Major League Baseball) draft he thought he must have been dreaming. Because not only was he drafted right out of high school, he wasn’t what most, including himself, considered major league material. “When all that happened I was just like, ‘Oh my goodness.’ It’s just, I didn’t think I was even going to go D1. Because, I was the smallest guy on every team - every team. And it was just like man, like you see all these kids like 6’ 3”, big, hit home runs. I hit home runs, but it was nothing like crazy. And I’m like, ‘There’s no way I can make it.’”
It’s understandable that Ben had come to that conclusion when considering that the percentage of players being drafted right out of high school is said to be less than one percent. So as a senior, he was just trying to make it to college. “If I just get to college, I’d be happy, just go there and just get a good job or something. I’d be happy with that. And all of a sudden like, University of Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Miami, all these teams come in and say, ‘We want you to play centerfield for us next year, your freshman year.’ I was like, ‘Okay. Okay, I got to sit and talk about this.’”
Despite his own misgivings, the pros saw his ability to put the bat on the ball and his speed, which would make him a threat on base, and give him the ability to chase down balls. So the phone started to ring. “I’ve been playing with so many athletic kids in baseball; going to all these tournaments, perfect games, hearing all these kids, seeing them on the magazines, some of them being on ESPN. Then all of a sudden my senior year come around, teams are like, ‘We want to draft you first round.’ And I was just like, and my parents are like, ‘What’s going on?’ I’m like, ‘I have no idea.’”
When he was selected, naturally there were doubters. “All the people talking saying, ‘He won’t be able to make the big leagues. He’s too small. His arm’s not strong enough. He don’t have that power no more.’ The Minnesota Twins kind of gave me a chance to show what I got.”
After proving himself for 4 seasons in the minors, Ben was called up to the Twins. Now with the Phillies, the undersized outfielder is in his 3rd year in the big leagues. He’s says it’s not just his talent that has gotten him to the big leagues, but the Lord. “It’s a humbling, it’s a humbling thing. It helps me grow up. It really helps you grow up. Because you see these little kids there who look up to you. And they’d be like, ‘Man, you’re my hero.’ I’m like, ‘I should not be your hero. Jesus should be your hero. I’m playing this for Him. It’s just playing this game; I’m never playing for myself. I’m always going to play for the Big Man upstairs. Because He gave me this, I mean, He gave me the chance to do this.”
Anyone who’s played with Ben will tell you that his best quality isn’t his ability to catch pop flies, but his charismatic personality that’s rooted in his faith in the Lord. “Till this day, I’m just like, ‘Thank You.’ I’m just like, ‘Thank You.’ I’m just like, ‘Really, You didn’t have to give this to me. You know, I will love You no matter what, but You give me this chance. I’m not going to regret it.’ And just being 3 years in the Big Leagues and (I’m) still here, this is a definite blessing.”
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