Belton, Texas – David Murphy, outfielder for the Texas Rangers, will be the guest speaker at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Wednesday, January 18, at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. in the W. W. Walton Chapel.
“One of the things we are trying to do with Chapel,” Vice President for Student Life Byron Weathersbee said, “is to bring in speakers who are living out their ministry in a variety of vocations.”
Murphy is part of the I am Second movement, which brings together actors, athletes, musicians and everyday people who have made a commitment to live their lives for Christ.
“The game of baseball should be my ministry,” Murphy said in a video on the I am Second website. “Why not use every opportunity to spread the Word?”
“I pray during the national anthem at each game,” Murphy continued. “I prayed that I would be playing for His glory and not mine.”
Murphy, a native Texan from Houston, has been a professional baseball player since being picked up by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2003 draft. He spent the better part of three seasons making his way through Single and Double-A teams before being promoted to the big leagues in 2006. Just over two weeks after his major league debut, Murphy hit is first MLB home run against the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium.
Less than a year later, Murphy was traded by Boston to the Texas Rangers. He has been with the team ever since. He has been a key player in both the 2010 and 2011 post seasons, which saw the Rangers reach the World Series for only the first and second times in franchise history.
Murphy’s career batting average is .280, and he has hit a total of 58 career home runs. He is also credited with 258 career runs batted in.
“It would be great if everyone knew me as David Murphy, the All-Star, or David Murphy, the World Series Champion, but I’ve set my priorities straight,” Murphy said. “I’d love to be looked at as David Murphy, Man of God.”
After his appearance in Walton Chapel, Murphy will be sharing a special lunch with the Cru baseball team.
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