Cade Smith is in his second year as a pitcher with the Cleveland Guardians. The successful MLB pitcher has more to talk about than just stats—he shared the gospel with fans on the field.
“I’m not actually a pitcher,” Smith said. “I’m washed, I’m justified, and I’m sanctified.”
MLB Pitcher Cade Smith Unafraid To Share the Gospel With Young Fans
As an MLB pitcher, Cade Smith has risen to the challenge of being calm under pressure. He “recorded one of the best seasons by a rookie reliever in franchise history” in 2024, going 6-1 with a 1.91 ERA. The team finished the season with a 92-69 record.
He grew up in a Christian home in Canada and attended Mennonite Educational Institute.
Smith has a Scripture reference, 1 Corinthians 6:11, embroidered on his baseball glove. This practice isn’t all that uncommon, as Kansas City Royals pitcher Luke Weaver has worn a “Bible Glove” that he designed with Scripture references.
Some might have noticed the reference, but Smith specifically pointed it out as he interacted with fans on the field.
The team chaplain, Darby Nobles, posted the conversation on Instagram. Nobles also serves as chaplain for many of the Cleveland teams, as well as director for the Cleveland Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Smith asked fans if they knew what the reference on his glove meant. Without many responses, he was quick to explain the verse as well as the context. Beginning with 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Smith summarized these verses as “a statement of universal condemnation.” With a smile, he invited kids to “ask their parents about that one.”
He explained that everyone has sinned, and “no one’s good enough. You’re not going to heaven on your own.”
Smith lit up when he shared what “one of his favorite verses” says. Even though everyone has sinned, everyone also can be “washed, justified, sanctified by the name of Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God.”
“So, regardless of how any outing goes—up or down—if I succeed or if I struggle or I do really bad,” Smith explained, “I know that I’m not actually a pitcher.”
View this post on Instagram
.jpg){kind=link}
