Nationals’ Alex Call credits Christ for incredible turnaround, answering prayer: ‘Trust in Jesus’

A Washington Nationals outfielder known best for his versatility and patience at the plate is crediting his faith in Christ for carrying him through a trying season last year.

Right fielder Alex Call ranks first on the Nationals this season in hitting (.290) among players with at least 150 at-bats and in the top five in walks (21) – yet in 2024 he was questioning his talent and even his future in baseball. At the time, Call was grinding through a slump in the minor leagues for the Rochester Red Wings – a AAA affiliate of the Nationals – and trying to get his swing back.

He remained part of the so-called “40-man roster” for the Nationals throughout 2024 – a sign the organization still saw potential – but he couldn’t help but wonder how long he’d stay there.

“You get challenged and you try to be as steady as you can and trust in God and trust in Jesus throughout no matter what’s going on,” he told the Sports Spectrum podcast. “… But, man, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t test you to your limits.”

Call had hoped to use his time in Rochester to reset and prove himself – to impress the Nationals and earn another shot in the Big Leagues. Instead, he got off to what he calls an “absolutely terrible start.” He had dreamed all his life of battling Major League pitchers and delivering a clutch hit in a pressure-packed moment. But for much of 2024, he couldn’t even square up a AAA pitcher – one step below the Big Leagues.

At one point, he was hitting .194 for the Red Wings – a poor average even in the minors.

“I’ve been a lifelong Christian. My hope, my trust is in the Lord. I’m so grateful for all He’s given me. If I never played baseball again, I would be completely content, because I know that I have everything that I need in Christ. … At the same time, when I’m on the field, I’m getting frustrated because I know that this is where God has me to play this game, but I stink, and I’m like, ‘God, I know I’m better than this.’”

Call remembers the inner tension.

“I knew I was in AAA for a reason. I knew I was having an impact on the guys there. We had a tremendous group at chapel. We had a great Bible study. Guys are growing. It was just an amazing atmosphere. And praise God for that. And I knew that I was on mission there – but on the field, it was not fun.”

Call watched old videos of himself successfully driving the ball. He looked for nuances in his old swing that he might be able to borrow and bring back to his current approach.

Nothing, though, seemed to pull him out of his lingering slump. Finally, a seasoned mentor and longtime friend offered a surprising suggestion – one Call hadn’t considered when it came to his swing: pray about it. He remembers his friend suggesting: “I think you should pray for God to give you something new. I think that you should pray that God would give you some hits.”

The two men discussed the famous passage from James 4:2: “You do not have because you do not ask God.”

Call said God answered with a “yes.” His swing improved. Instantly, he said, he began hitting better. The next month, he batted .300 – an impressive average at any level. He got called up to the Nationals and – in his first game back – hit a three-run homer against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He finished his 30-game season with Washington hitting .343.

“It was so cool, because I was like: This is not me doing this. Like, there’s no explanation other than God changed it. He gave me something new.”

To be clear, Call isn’t saying that every prayer leads to a base hit. But he does believe that every blessing – on and off the field – comes from above.

“No matter what, you have to trust in Him and just be content to grow in your faith and be content with whatever He has for you – whatever it is.”

Image credit: Alex Call (Instagram)