A powerful moment of faith at the ballpark is inspiring baseball fans across the country. Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith has gone viral after a video surfaced of him sharing his favorite Bible verse and presenting the gospel to fans — including children — near the dugout.
In the video, Smith, 26, points to 1 Corinthians 6:11 embroidered on his Rawlings glove and asks fans if they know the verse by heart. He explains how it serves as a constant reminder of his identity in Christ.
“Does anyone know this verse on top of their head?” Smith asks the group. “So this is one of my favorite verses, because basically [1 Corinthians 6, verses 9 and 10] is a statement of universal condemnation. You can ask your parents about that one, but it means everyone sinned — no one’s good enough. You’re not getting to heaven on your own.”
Smith then shares the hope of verse 11: “And that’s what you guys were — but you were washed, justified, sanctified by the name of Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.”
For Smith, that truth changes everything.
“And so regardless of how any outing goes — up or down, if I succeed or I struggle, or I do really bad — I know that I’m not actually a pitcher,” he told fans. “I’m washed, I’m justified, I’m sanctified. And those are things no one can take from you.”
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Smith’s words struck a chord online, with thousands of fans praising his boldness in proclaiming the gospel in such a public setting. For him, baseball is simply the platform God has given him — not his ultimate identity.
The Canadian-born right-hander played high school ball at Mennonite Educational Institute in British Columbia before moving on to the University of Hawaii. After going undrafted in the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft, he fought his way to the majors, becoming one of baseball’s top relievers almost overnight.
Smith posted an impressive 6-1 record during his rookie season in 2024, finishing with a 1.91 ERA and 103 strikeouts. His performance earned him a fifth-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.
This season, his numbers have dipped slightly — he holds a 5-4 record with a 2.62 ERA — but he’s recently caught fire, winning four straight appearances and holding opponents scoreless in his last five games.
In past interviews, Smith has been open about the role his faith plays in his career. Last year, he told Sports Network Cleveland that his goal is not to measure himself against other pitchers, but to stay focused on the unique calling God has placed on his life.
“It’s not about trying to emulate a specific person,” Smith said. “For me, it’s about trying to maximize the ability that God has given me and the potential that I have. And if I reach the potential — that’s what it’s about. It’s not about trying to copy somebody and have the exact same career as them. It’s about trying to take advantage of the opportunity that I’ve been given.”
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