The annual Major League Baseball draft of new players was held today. They draft high school students as well as college students. There are also those that are called “walk on” draftees. They are neither high school nor college players. They are generally players that failed to get drafted out of high school but have stayed in some form of organized baseball. One such “walk on” player was drafted by the Boston Red Sox a few years ago. He played in their minor league system and was eventually traded away to another club. Eventually he became a starting short stop for the California Angels. Two years ago he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He plays short stop for them. His name is David Eckstein. Most clubs wouldn’t draft him because of his size (5ft.7in.), even though he displayed great skills. Even after he was drafted many “experts” still maintained that he would never be a consistent performer at the Major League level because of his size limitations. He was named last years World Series MVP (Most Valuable Player).
David Eckstein doesn’t fit the pattern or the mold of what a great baseball player is “supposed” to look like. He just keeps on being one anyway. Mr. Eckstein it turns out is from a devout family who has faced many challenges together. His dad passed away a couple of years ago and he has two brothers who have been stricken with a debilitating genetic illness at young ages. The Eckstein’s have always faced challenges and done so with character and perseverance. David doesn’t need to be taller. He and his family are strong enough to face any challenge because they have played the game of life on an uphill grade, all of his young life. The day that his dad died, he was scheduled to play in a playoff game. He talked to his Mom and told her that he would catch the next flight home and be with her. His mother said, “No, you have a job to do. You know that is what your father would say. You play. You go to work and fulfill your obligation to your team and then come home.” David, being the good son and true Eckstein that he is, did as his mother told him. Once again David gave his all that night and played an incredible game. After the game he told the media why he had played instead of flying home. Not even the reporters could think of another question to ask him after he relayed the message that his Mom had given him. David is still a great go-getter of a ball player. All of his teammates, from every team he has played on, have always said that David is one of the most dedicated, hard working guys that they have ever played with. Oh, and by the way they also say he is one of the most selfless team players that they have ever played with. But as everyone can easily see, he is first and foremost a good son and a good brother.
David Eckstein is not too small. He is just in a smaller package that must be busting at the seams to contain all that he is allowing himself to be. David is what we all want our children to aspire to be like: A man of integrity. David was aptly named. He was named after King David of the Bible, who was small of stature but showed much larger men how to slay the giant Goliath. David, you see, is Jewish; God’s own chosen people. The MLB standards don’t always take into consideration the intangible matter of the heart of a man. David’s body may look too small, but his heart is big. It is the heart of a son. The moral of this story is to know that you are a son, a child of the Most High God. Even if you feel small, don’t be afraid to play big, because just like David, you’re from a good family, the family of God. Blessings!
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