Add Movieguide® as preferred on Google
By Mallory Mattingly
Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Barnett takes one Bible verse with him every time he steps on the mound.
“One of my favorite verses is actually on my glove. It’s Colossians 3:23 and, it’s ‘Whatever your hands find to do, work as if you’re working for the Lord and not man,'” Barnett said in an interview with Jesus Over Baseball. “And that’s one of those things that I try to take out here, you know. You never know what’s going to happen, but as long as I’m looking for the Lord, I feel like the results take care of itself. That’s one that sticks out to me and I try to live by.”
Before the MLB, Barnett played at Auburn University in Alabama, where he helped lead the Tigers to the College World Series.
In his final year at Auburn, the athlete went “3-3 with a 4.38 ERA in 19 appearances and 14 starts, his ERA was good for third among qualified Auburn pitchers, was second on the team with 83 strikeouts in 63.2 innings, registered career bests in nearly every category including appearances, starts, innings and strikeouts, and seven of his starts came in the midweek and seven came in SEC and postseason play,” the Tigers reported.
In 2022, Barnett was drafted by the Kansas City Royals, a moment he called an absolute “dream.”
Related: Here’s Why This Oakland Athletics Rookie Trusts God ‘Every Single Day’
“The Good Lord blessed me with 3 years of memories, friendships, and the best team a kid could ask for. Thank you @auburnbaseball for everything,” he said in a draft post on Instagram.
In his first year with the Royals, Barnett won the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year award for being the top pitcher in the minor league organization. He secured a 3.30 ERA with 137 strikeouts across High-A and Double-A leagues.
In 2024, the Royals traded Barnett to the Athletics, where he has continued to shine on the mound.
According to NBC Sports, the pitcher protected a “three-run lead for his second save Thursday against the Giants.”
“The A’s scored four times in the top of the ninth to go from trailing by one to creating a pretty easy save chance. They could have turned to usual suspects Hogan Harris or Elvis Alvarado at that point, but both pitched last night. Barnett got the chance and handled it quickly,” the outlet continued. “His previous save came on June 9, when he pitched the final two innings of a 7-5 game. He’s probably still behind Harris and Alvarado in line for saves, but at least he’s in the mix. It is possible he could be stretched back out as a rotation candidate at some point.”
By anchoring his career in faith and the principles of Colossians 3:23, Barnett has successfully navigated his journey from Auburn to the major leagues, trusting that his dedication to the Lord will continue to guide his success on the mound.
Read Next: 6-Foot-10-Inch MLB Pitcher Has an Even Bigger Faith: ‘Baseball Is Just a Platform’
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
Add Movieguide® as preferred on GoogleShare:
- Content: +1
- Content: +3
- Content: +2
- Content: +4