Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaat has recently offered clarification about a viral image of him holding a book that many believed was a Bible in the dugout before game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pfaadt has played a critical role in propelling his team to the World Series as a rookie, with a clutch performance in the decisive game 7 of the NLCS over the Philadelphia Phillies, notching seven strikeouts in four innings. However, what most fans may not have seen was Pfaadt, who joined only a dozen other rookies in MLB history to start a postseason game 7, reading a book, which some speculated was a Bible, before taking the mound.
An image of Pfaadt reading a large leather-bound book in the dugout went viral before NCLS game 7, garnering a number of reactions on social media. Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the House Judiciary Committee chair, applauded Pfaadt for the visible act of faith, tweeting, “We need more of this in sports!” However, it turns out that it wasn’t quite the moment of devotion and prayer that everyone assumed it was.
After the game, the 25-year-old pitcher told CBN Will Dawson that the book wasn’t the Bible but a “scouting report.” He said, “No, that was a scouting report. I am a man of faith, but it wasn’t a Bible. That’s just my little booklet journal I’ve had all year.” Pfaadt started his journey to the big leagues at Trinity High School, an all-boys school in Louisville, Kentucky. He later played college ball at Bellarmine University, a private Catholic school also located in Louisville.
This is awesome ??
D-Backs pitcher, Brandon Pfaadt, appears here reading the Bible moments before taking the mound for a winner-take-all Game 7 pic.twitter.com/GkjEZcGu49
— Baseball Lifestyle™ (@BsbLifestyle__) October 25, 2023
He’s never been shy about sharing his faith. Before the 2020 MLB Draft, where Arizona selected him in the fifth round, Pfaadt told local news outlet WDRB that trusting in God’s sovereignty is essential to overcome any nervousness about one of the most significant days of his life. Pfaadt said, “There’s a lot of anxiety coming up to this moment. But I think you got to just keep working hard no matter what, and then whatever happens, happens. God has a plan, so just keep working hard every single day, and hopefully, your dream will come true.”
The rookie joins a distinguished list of MLB players who are outspoken about their faith in Christ, including Phillies pitcher Michael Lorenzen, who gave God glory after he pitched a no-hitter in August. Lorenzen credited his Christian faith for his strong performance.
He told NBC Sports in Philadelphia immediately after the game, “I just had God’s grace today, and I definitely got to thank God for today. I got to give Him all the glory just to be able to keep me calm and trusting in Him. Whatever happened, I was just going to trust in Him, and that’s kind of what I’ve been doing all season in trying to just lean on Him.”