Baseball

Red Sox rookie Michael Chavis boldly sharing his faith and providing spark for Boston

By Joshua Doering May 22, 2019
Boston Red Sox rookie Michael Chavis (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Boston Red Sox rookie infielder Michael Chavis is one month and 100 at-bats into his major league career, but already having an impact. He’s collected 29 hits, nine home runs (tied for second on the team), and 24 RBI through 101 at-bats, putting him in the early Rookie of the Year conversation.

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After getting drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Chavis spent five years in the minors. Named to MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects list for 2019, he made his major league debut on April 20.

Last week, Chavis singled home the winning run in the 10th inning as Boston beat the Colorado Rockies 6-5. But his big hit on Sunday was even more special. A five-year-old named Jaxon served as the PA announcer for Chavis’ at-bat in the fifth inning. Chavis pointed to Jaxon before stepping into the box — and before launching a 420-foot home run over the Green Monster.

After the game, Chavis found a tweet from Jaxon’s older sister and reached out to thank him.

The 23-year-old Chavis recognizes the influence he can have being pro baseball player, and he aims to use that for good.

“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 recently told WEEI radio.

So unashamed is Chavis about his faith that he’s actually started to receive pushback on social media.

“It can upset some people, which personally I don’t really understand,” Chavis told WEEI. “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.”

As Chavis settles into life as a major leaguer, he has no intention of changing the way he approaches his faith in Christ.

“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.”

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