Baseball Player Wes Clarke Proclaims His Faith on the Field
By Movieguide® Contributor
Minor league baseball player Wes Clarke was baptized at the ballpark by his teammate and brother-in-Christ Brewer Hickler.
“Had the privilege of being baptized yesterday on the field by one of my good friends @brewerhicklen after our game. Thank you Jesus for this amazing moment in my life. I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by so many supportive people. It was such a special night! 🙏,” Clarke wrote on an Instagram post commemorating the occasion.
Clarke was baptized in a large tub near home base following a 4-1 win over the Memphis Redbirds on Saturday. Clarke and Hicklen — who facilitated the baptism — both wore “Jesus Won” T-shirts, declaring Christ’s victory over the grave.
Clarke’s Instagram bio now proclaims “Christ Follower” and points towards 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which reads, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
The young player entered the minor leagues after playing three years in college at South Carolina. After entering the Milwaukee Brewers system at the A level, he quickly rose to AA where he has honed his skills. Last year, Clarke hit 26 home runs, brought in 80 RBIs and had an on-base percentage of .392.
His impressive performance got him called up to AAA for the summer where he is playing for the Nashville Sounds.
Clarke and his wife Mariah are expecting their first child later this year. Mariah also appears to be a Christian with her Instagram bio reading, “more of Him less of me.”
It is encouraging to see Clarke take such a bold step of faith and truly declare his faith publicly setting an example for thousands of fans who may never have encountered Jesus before.
Movieguide® previously reported on another baseball player who shares his faith on the field:
Texas Rangers rookie Evan Carter uses his time in the big leagues to be a light for Christ.
The 21-year-old wears a “JESUS WON” T-shirt in interviews and praises God even when he faces setbacks.
“On Sept. 8, ahead of his Major League debut, Carter told reporters he was grateful to God for the opportunity. For that interview and during batting practice, he was wearing a T-shirt proclaiming ‘Jesus Won.’ Carter singled in his first at-bat that day, helping to spark a turnaround for Texas,” Church Leaders reported.
Sports Spectrum observed, “To further express his faith, Carter has a tattoo on his left arm that stands for ‘God is greater than the highs and lows,’ and on his right wrist he often wears an ‘I Am Second’ bracelet.”