Standout pitcher Zach Eflin credits faith and family during breakout season

Professional baseball pitcher Zach Eflin is enjoying a breakthrough season and credits God for sustaining him through years of challenges.

Eflin, who currently pitches for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, is tied for second in the league with wins at 12 – his career-high. The right-hander’s performance has helped the Devil Rays achieve the second-best record in the American League so far.

More than halfway through the season, Eflin is on pace to set a career-high in innings pitched, too. The 29-year-old’s statistic of 0.99 WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched) is tied for the lowest in baseball. In a recent game, Eflin threw seven shutout innings on the way to a Ray’s victory.

But the road to success hasn’t been easy.

Just over a year ago, while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, he suffered a knee injury that threw a wrench into his future.  

After only compiling 75 innings, Eflin admitted to The Athletic last year that the injury was “not the best timing” for securing his next contract, but he “believes in God’s plan.” 

“I don’t really stray away from that. I’ve gone through a lot of things in my life that, in the moment, I can say, ‘Yeah, it sucked,’” Elfin said. “But I think it’s really all how you rebound and you bounce back.” 

“I know one day that I’m going to be healthy. I’m going to throw 200-plus innings every year. That’s what I’m going to do,” he continued. “So I just got to keep reminding myself of that. Really stay in the moment and just take every day as a blessing.” 

Outside of baseball, Elfin has experienced adversity within his family. 

His older sister, Ashley, died from leukemia at only 7, eventually leading to his parents’ divorce and his mother’s struggles with alcoholism. Larry Eflin, Zach’s father, worked hard doing maintenance for the University of Central Florida in order to support his children. 

Eflin’s sister, Candace, was also born with global developmental delay, but her fighting spirit has left an indelible mark on Elfin’s life. 

“She means everything to me. I can’t thank God enough for putting her in my life,” the pitcher told USA Today. “She’s helped me overcome so many things in my life. I truly believe everything happens for a reason.” 

Eflin made the most of his post-injury return as a reliever for the Phillies, who lost the World Series 4-2 to the Houston Astros last year. During that championship run, Elfin made six appearances on the mound, never giving up a run. 

As free agent after the season, Elfin was signed to the most lucrative contract Tampa Bay had ever made – a three-year, $40 million deal. 

Throughout both struggle and success, Eflin credits his faith for helping him be at peace in all circumstances.  

The pitcher’s Instagram bio also reflects a simple set of priorities: “God, family, friends and @raysbaseball.”  

In memory of his later sister, he even has a tattoo on his left arm of two hands clasped together in prayer. Beneath it is a powerful reminder from the Bible: “Walk by faith, not by sight.” 

“Going out on the mound and throwing in front of 40,000 people doesn’t affect me whatsoever, because I know my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is above me, and He’s got my back” Eflin told the Philadelphia Enquirer last year. “Faith, to me, has always been No. 1. I’ve always lived a care-free life. I’ve always known that God has had my back through everything.”