In this episode of Crossing Home Plate, Cody Bradford, Texas Ranger starting pitcher and @BaylorAthletics alum, talks with Chris Davis and Steven Van Ooyen about growing up playing baseball, his reasons for choosing @baylor , and his faith. Cody also talks about how his faith impacted his identity as a baseball player and a man.

#baseball #texasrangers @MLB #bayloruniversity #faith #faithjourney

Former @Rangers and @redsox outfielder, David Murphy, shares his life story with former 1st baseman, Chris Davis ( @orioles & @Rangers ) and host Steven Van Ooyen (www.stevenvanooyen.com). Growing up in Houston, Texas, David was a gifted baseball player making his high school varsity team as a pitcher his freshman year. David found his way to Baylor University to play college baseball where he hit .413 his junior year coupled with 11 home runs. David was drafted 17th overall by the Boston Red Socks in 2003 and made his major league debut on 2006. He was then traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2007. He went on to play in Texas for 10 years and was an important member of the 2010 and 2011 teams that made the first ever World Series appearances for the Texas Rangers. David shares the challenges he experienced throughout his career and how his faith impacted his career and where he relied on God and his community in the toughest times. @baylor @BaylorAthletics ​

Shawn Tolleson, former @Rangers and @Dodgers pitcher, shares his stories with Chris Davis (retired 1st baseman for @Rangers and @orioles ) and host Steve Van Ooyen (stevenvanooyen.com) on episode 3 of the Crossing Home Plate podcast.

Shawn grew up in Allen, Texas where he was a 4-year letterman at Allen High School and pitched for Team USA after his junior year. He shares how a pop in his elbow in the first game of his senior season led to his first Tommy John Surgery and a college experience at @baylor / @BaylorAthletics .

Shawn explains how his faith anchored his emotions through the toughest times, which included his father's cancer diagnosis at the height of his career in 2015 - the year he finished with the most saves in @MLB after the All-star break.

Shawn is now committed to family life with his wife (who he met in middle school) and children. Shawn has also opened a training facility in Allen, Texas where he hopes to help parents of athletes as well as the athletes themselves.

Cody Allen, retired, second all time saves leader for the Cleveland Guardians, talks baseball life in college through his time in the Major Leagues. Cody shares how he struggled with identity in college after getting cut from UCF and how his faith developed during his time in Cleveland.

Major League Baseball All-Stars - Chris Davis (Baltimore Orioles) and Chris Carpenter (St. Louis Cardinals) share the stories and perspectives of being on the biggest stages in baseball with host, Steven Van Ooyen.

Both fierce competitors, Davis and Carpenter get real about what it was like to be in the game and what it's been like after the game. They talk about their struggles, pressures, relationships, and, most importantly, what their relationship with Christ means to them and how that plays out on a daily basis.