“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
For former MLB player and current ESPN analyst, Xavier Scruggs, giving back has always been a priority. Since his days playing and now his time commentating on games in the Korean KBO League, Scruggs has always had a desire to live out his faith in a way that impacts others and leads them to the Kingdom. As he has grown throughout his career in baseball around the game, he says giving back is his first priority.
Scruggs says that from the very beginning, faith has always been an important part of his life.
Born in Diamond Bar, California, he says his parents always emphasized living life the right way and serving others. “Faith has definitely been a big part of my life. I grew up in a Christian home. I definitely think my faith has been a progression as I have learned more and gone through experiences that have helped drive my faith to where it is today.” Those experiences have included years in the Major Leagues with the Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and NC Dinos of the KBO. Through those experiences, Scruggs says he has been molded into who he is today. Throughout his time in the MLB and KBO, Scruggs says he learned the impact you can have with the platform that you are given.
Whatever it is you do in life, you have an opportunity to help others. Scruggs said that for him, developing a routine and keeping faith first was key. “Making prayer a priority, making fellowship a priority, talking with guys I know I can have good conversations with, and learn to grow in my faith. Making those things a priority and remembering that those priorities are going to help me be a better person in life.” This led to Scruggs starting Xtraordinary Athletes, a company he built to help younger athletes use their gifts to make a change. Through Xtraordinary Athletes, Scruggs has been able to inspire so many minds and provoke them to look at what their gifts are and how they can use them to make an impact. Scruggs has used camps, podcasts, workshops, and more to help motivate others to make a difference with their own lives. Scruggs also has undergone a major change in life since the coronavirus hit. He was still playing baseball at the time but the virus soon took that away from him. He says he learned to not dwell in the disappointments but grow in opportunity. 
“We have to stop and take a break. The virus has taught me that just because something uncontrollable happens in life and you are uncomfortable doesn’t mean you can’t grow. During this time when I can’t do some of the things I’m used to doing normally, I want to take the time to grow and become a better person. Through the toughest and most uncomfortable times, that’s when our growth happens most as a person. This time has really allowed me to feed into my family and into my faith. I’m going to make sure my faith is locked down, I am going to get into the word, get into prayer with my family and my kids. I can’t say I don’t have time for that.” As Scruggs continued to make an impact in his own home, he was also given an opportunity to commentate KBO games for ESPN. Since then, he has become a regular as he shares incredible wisdom, knowledge, and inspiration. For Scruggs, he says a certain verse too has helped him grow into who he is today.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Scruggs says this verse took a different meaning once he had a son of his own.
“Now that I have a son and a family, I can begin to recognize what that really means. If I have to give up my firstborn child, that would be the ultimate death of me.” He says that the experience he now has as a father has taught him what it meant for God to give up his only son. “To understand that Jesus gave up his life for us just so that we might not live in sin anymore is mindblowing now to me. For somebody to take somebody from you that you love so much and so dearly, that’s a whole other level of giving something up. It makes me understand the grace that God has given us, the righteousness that he has, and how we have to live through faith.”
As Scruggs continues to make a name for himself both in the broadcast booth and away from the field with Xtraordinary athletes, he relies on his faith to keep him grounded and focused through it all. He aspires for his life to be a reflection of love and grace and anticipates changing lives for years to come.
I grew up with Xavier’s uncle, Kevin, who was a tremendous athlete and a California state wrestling champion. Great to see this article and happy that he’s doing well!