God's Grace Through Injuries

Interview with Blake Hawksworth

Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

The injuries in my career have been the hardest thing for me to deal with. Coming up with the Cardinals, I was the number one prospect at one time. And in a worldly sense I was kind of on top. And God allowed me to go through some valleys. It started with an ankle surgery. That led to my shoulder surgery. And that was about two years I missed, and that was by far the toughest two years. There were nights of crying, calling my parents thinking I wasn’t going to make it through this, and wondering if my arm would ever be the same.

All praise to God that he’s brought me through that and he prescribed some of that for my good. And now looking back, I wouldn’t change it for anything. I mean, I played in the minor leagues for eight years and there was so much growth and it was such a blessing. I get goosebumps just thinking about it, how far he’s taken me in being here now. I’m just so fortunate. But last year too as well, getting hit with the line drive, it was inches away from it being way worse. So I’m blessed. But obviously injuries are a part of the game and it just forces us and draws us closer to him, and that’s where the peace is going through that stuff.

is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers between 2009 and 2011.