Praying pitcher faithful at the mound

Photo by Peter Arrabal/The Minaret (Tampa)

Jonathan Holt performs his prayer ritual before pitching against Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. Holt was named Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week for his performance in that game.

LEESBURG (FBW)—Two boys between eight and 10 years of age walked up to Jonathan Holt and asked him to sign the baseballs they clutched tightly in their small fists.

Holt, a 21-year-old junior closer at the University of Tampa, had just finished pitching in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship, delivering a 7-2 victory and a fifth national championship to the school.

Courtesy photo

: Roger and Kathy Holt congratulate Jonathan after the Tampa Spartans won the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship June 1.

The boys, sitting with their mother in the stands, had watched Holt earn most outstanding player honors. They also saw him kneel behind the mound prior to each inning, head bowed in prayer before drawing a cross in the dirt.

"You really did well; I'm going to start praying before I pitch too," Holt's mother, Kathy, recalled one of the boys telling Holt.

Holt was picked by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft June 7, a week after the championship game, Holt said. And even in the midst of the pressures of playing minor league ball with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Niles, Ohio, Holt continues the ritual he began in Little League.

"It's always been a dream of mine ever since I was little to get this opportunity and now I have it," Holt said. "I'm just so thankful for the opportunities that God has given me and hopefully I can just glorify Him."

A member of First Baptist Church in Leesburg, Holt said he doesn't remember what sparked the routine, but his parents insist it was all his idea.

"[The ritual is] something he started," Kathy said. "It's amazing when you see a child grow up that's done that his whole life—you know that his heart is following God."

Holt's father, Roger—a one-time second-baseman for the New York Yankees—said the public act of prayer is a testimony to others.

"I think he professes his faith in a positive manner and if people want to explore that faith with him he's open to that, but he doesn't come overbearingly with it," Roger said.

Art Ayris, executive pastor of First Baptist, said winning the championship and being drafted was a culmination of Holt's years of faithfulness.

"It's just amazing because he stayed so faithful to God and just to see how at each step how God blessed him in an incredible way," Ayris said. "The Christian walk is a journey and I see he's been a very visible example of staying faithful and seeing what God does in a life."

Holt agreed God has blessed him with talent and opportunities, but said his new career in minor league baseball hasn't been without challenges.

"This year when I first got here I experienced a little bit of failure going and maybe not throwing the way I really wanted to and getting hit around a little bit," Holt said, "[But] everything happens for a reason.... The Lord puts you in certain circumstances or situations to make you grow up and to make you realize things—maybe not at that certain point in time but down the road in the future."

Even in the tough times, the young ball player admits he was open to learning.

"I think that's the one thing that I really took from it," Holt continued. "This is all from the Lord and that it's going to take lots of hard work, but I'm going to get through it and He's not going to put anything on me that I can't handle and that I can't get through."

Holt is used to challenges according to his childhood friend and teammate, Ben Ayris, Pastor Ayris' son.

"He's been hurt more than once," Ben said, referring to elbow and finger injuries Holt suffered in high school. "He just did everything in his power to not only fulfill his responsibilities to the team but also to go above and beyond that by doing extra work in therapy."

Ben recalled Holt encouraging him when he took over as the team's pitcher in high school.

"He just had every right to be discouraged and every right to be down and every right to pull the team down, but he was so selfless in the fact that he's hurt—he can't contribute on the field—so therefore he's going to contribute mentally in the dugout," Ben said. "There're not many people like that, especially around athletics, so I think that's a pretty special attribute.

"It's not easy to remain optimistic and to remain such a contributing factor on the team, but he did," Ben continued. "He made sure that when he could possibly be there for any practice or game he was there and he just worked his tail off to get where he is and I'm proud of him."

Settling into his new routine, throwing better and finding ways to keep his faith relevant, Holt said prayer is the key to keeping his Christian walk straight.

"I think the big thing is...just being in a constant state of prayer and just trying to keep your mind on the right things and stay focused," Holt said. "I'm very lucky to have a great support system in my family, my friends."

Holt said he has been fortunate in finding Christian friends on his team. Weekly chapel services and Christian magazines also help him keep his priorities straight, he said.

"That just keeps you busy and keeps your mind hopefully in the right places," Holt said of the services and literature. "It's pretty difficult, but also if you want it it's there. You can go to chapel; you can do certain things."

The most important thing Holt said he would tell boys dreaming of a career in baseball is to keep their priorities in order.

"I think the big thing is just to go out and have fun and play hard and play the game for the right reasons," Holt said. "Keep your mind on the right things and get your priorities set. You know God should be first in your life and family and then whatever you decide to do after that."

Finally, Holt credited his parents with instilling within him Godly values.

"Our prayer for both of our sons is that in everything they do they're going to glorify God," Kathy said, voice muffled as she fought tears. "Every time he goes out on the mound that's what he wants to do—whether that's a good outing or not—as long as he feels like he's given a testimony through what he's doing I think that his heart's full and that's a good situation."