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Life
Throws Pitcher A Curve continued
From the age of seven when he first stood on the pitcher’s mound, Maroth knew he had found his niche in baseball. “I love pitching,” says Maroth. “You’re right in the middle of the game, involved in every play. Nothing happens until I throw the ball.” Maroth excelled as a pitcher all through Little League and high school and his talent opened doors to the University of Central Florida’s baseball program. He describes himself as a finesse pitcher. “I don’t throw hard,” he says. “I rely on location and changing speeds.” After three years at UCF Maroth was drafted in 1998 by the Boston Red Sox. The 21-year-old lefthander had become a professional baseball player, a huge step on the road to achieving his dream. Yet it didn’t take long for him to realize that there was something missing in his game plan.
In fact, conversations about God and the Bible made him feel uncomfortable. That all changed when he began dating a Christian girl, Brooke, who was also a student at UCF. Maroth began to attend church with her. “I was wondering more and more about God. I started reading the Bible and talking to other Christians,” says Maroth. In the process he had a lot of his questions answered. “I learned that God made me and loves me and wants to have a relationship with me. I heard that Jesus was the Son of God, and that through His death on the cross He paid for the sin that separated me from God,” he explains. But all that knowledge about who God was and what Jesus had done didn’t seem to bring his search to a satisfactory conclusion. In 1998, after pitching a decent game in Lowell, Mass., Maroth was sitting in the dressing room with a Christian teammate. “I understood who God is and what Christ did, but the decision was still weighing on my heart,” he describes. “God wants us to have a relationship with Him and to follow Him. I knew what I needed to do and it was time to take action.” After talking with his teammate, Maroth prayed to God right there in the dressing room, committing his life to Christ. It would be a nice tidy story to say that from then on, Maroth experienced smooth sailing and that his career path is the stuff of a feature length highlight reel. Not so much. “We all make plans for our future,” says Maroth. “Sometimes it’s difficult to submit to God’s plans, know that He is in control.” A tough lesson to learn for a guy who pursued pitching because he loved to be in the centre of every play. In 1999 Maroth was traded to the Detroit Tigers organization and worked his way up to the AAA level and by 2001 was tied for second place in wins for the entire International League. Then in June of 2002 Maroth was finally made a starter for the Tigers. However, the very next season, the Tigers recorded a dismal record, finishing with 55 wins and 106 loses. And Maroth, although recording the most wins for the team, also recorded 20 of their losses, something which hadn’t happened in baseball since 1980. Not exactly the kind of notoriety to which a professional athlete aspires. All eyes were on Maroth, watching for how he would respond to the challenge. But by this time, Maroth knew he was part of a picture much bigger than a Tigers losing season. His relationship with God helped keep him focused on what really mattered. “Before every game I go out onto the field and pray,” says Maroth. “It helps me keep my focus on God. I pray for His protection, and I pray that He gets the glory.” Then between innings, he makes a cross in the dirt behind the pitcher’s mound. “It’s just a reminder to stay focused on Him.” Maroth’s challenges didn’t end with one bad season. He had surgery on his elbow in 2006 and was traded by the Tigers to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007. When the Cards released him he signed as a free agent with Kansas City in 2008. “Sometimes it was tough to read my Bible and pray daily,” says Maroth of the often uphill battle he has faced throughout his career. “It felt like He wasn’t hearing my prayers. I would try to do it on my own,” he explains, “but that didn’t last long.” “My wife Brooke has been a huge blessing and a gift from God,” he adds. Maroth married his college sweetheart in 2001. “She has been by my side through everything, a faithful support and encouragement.” The
latest detour in Maroth’s journey took place on April 30, when
he was released by Kansas City. A free agent once again, the 30-year-old
Maroth is spending time with his wife and boys (Nolan, 4 and Tate, 2),
waiting to see the surgeon who repaired his elbow in 2006. This time
to check his shoulder. “His plan is much better than ours. It’s always difficult to find joy in going through the tough times, but you’re gonna have trials — the Bible says when, not if,” he explains. It’s been a rough road at times for Maroth, but he seems to have found the secret to enjoying the journey. “Be joyful that God is making you who He wants you to be.” Photo courtesy Omaha Royals, this page: Career & Sport Entertainment
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“I
didn’t grow up going to church,” explains Maroth. “I
knew very little about God.”
