Michael Chavis, a rookie infielder for the Boston Red Sox is only 100 at-bats into his MLB career but is already making strides, making 29 hits, nine home runs, and 24 RBI’s.
It is still early in the season, but suffice to say, the 23-year-old’s impressive record is already placing him in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Chavis is not only known for his plays on the baseball field, but his faith that can be seen both on and off the field.
In an interview with WWEI radio in April, Chavis explained to the radio show how using his platform to share his faith was of the utmost importance.
“I just want to show that if I’m in this position, if I can bring one or two people to Christ and show there is a different light in me, I think that would be a big difference,” Chavis told WEEI radio.
“It can upset some people which personally I don’t really understand,” Chavis said. “I think somebody’s faith is their personal thing, obviously.”
“Given the platform that I have been given, this opportunity, I think it would be a waste if I didn’t use it to try and spread the word,” he added. “I’m not going to be some kind of missionary where I’m pushing it on everybody and shoving it in their face.”
Chavis emphasized that he would never try to force Christianity on anyone, but instead, he believes the best way to share the love of Christ is by walking the walk.
“But I think the way I carry myself and the way I go about my business in praising the Lord I think I just focus on it. It’s not something that I’m trying to push. Like I said, I’m not trying to force it on people. I think it’s something I try and show in how I do my stuff.”
“I’m not trying to be John the Baptist or anything like that,” he added. “I just want to show that if I’m in this position if I can bring one or two people to Christ and show there is a different light in me I think that would be a big difference.”
Chavis also explained in his interview that there is a balance to discovering his place on the team and sharing his faith.
“It’s kind of a tough area for me right now being the new guy and trying to find my spot in the clubhouse. I don’t want to be a distraction for anybody,” Chavis said.
“I’m still going to use my platform to praise God and it’s going to be part of my life. That’s not going to change. I just have to make sure this doesn’t become a distraction that shows up in the clubhouse. Obviously, there are other Christian guys in the organization and in the clubhouse as well. I think the focus should be on baseball and winning ballgames.”
Pushback for vocalizing his faith
Earlier in the season, Chavis started to receive pushback for sharing his faith but instead of becoming quiet, chose to explain why it was important to him to do so.
“I’ll use my platform and opportunity however I please,” Chavis tweeted after a fellow user critiqued his religious beliefs. “Why is it required to respect other religions but not Christianity? If I can respect your personal ignorance then you can respect my religious beliefs. I’ll say a prayer for you and your internal battles. God bless”
Chavis also added: “Genuinely curious. What about me being a Christian offends you, honestly?”
Twitter user by the name of ‘Blueprint’ responded that “not one damn thing” bothered him about Chavis being a Christian, “but not everyone in the building is a Christian. This is a big city and a baseball city, and calling someone else ignorant because they might not be Christian is what … ? Not Christian!”
Chavis responded to the user explaining that his comment wasn’t un-Christian, it was simply a personal opinion of his.
“I love God, my family, and baseball,” Chavis added. “If my number one interrupts number three for you then that’s not something I can help you with, unfortunately.”
His version of an 11:11 wish
If one glances at Chavis’s Twitter feed, they might think that he is a bit superstitious due to his consistent “11:11” tweets, but it’s actually another facet to his faith.
“I didn’t like the idea of making a wish for no purpose,” Chavis said in an interview with MassLive. “I don’t really think wishing wells and stuff like that work. I thought, why don’t I say a prayer or something that’s actually beneficial. It’s kind of just a reminder.”
“At some point in high school, someone was like, at 11:11, you make a wish,” Chavis added. “I was like, ‘Oh you’re right.’ But that’s for like normal people. With me being lucky No. 11, it’s got to be like super lucky for me.”
Chavis also admitted that not everyone likes his 11:11 tweets, in his interview with MassLive, but that doesn’t stop him from posting.
“If I don’t use my talent to help spread (God’s) word, it’s kind of a little bit wasted,” he said. “I’m not looking to be a missionary. I’m not going to force it upon people. But I want the way to carry myself, the way that I talk, the way I go about my business and the way that I play to represent not only me but to represent God as well.”