MIAMI — Griffin Hugus is just not your strange school baseball athlete. On the mound, he wears rec specs. Off it, he talks about Jesus greater than strikeouts. However for the junior College of Miami pitcher, his identification has by no means come from the scoreboard, it comes from God, household, and the quiet moments the place religion meets objective.
The 21-year-old Wellington, Florida, native was raised in a close-knit, sports-loving household. When he was not watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Chicago Cubs, he was enjoying these sports activities. Whether or not it was soccer, basketball, or yard hockey, it was all the time about getting higher. His dad, a former highschool soccer coach, made positive of that.
“He all the time inspired us to only go on the market and compete,” Hugus mentioned. “Baseball was simply the one which caught.”
His love for the sport took him from Cardinal Newman Excessive Faculty to the College of Cincinnati, however after a training change and a want to be someplace that embraced him each as a faith-focused participant and an individual, he transferred to Miami for his junior season. What Miami supplied him, modified his life.
The baseball was greater with packed crowds at Mark Gentle Discipline, nationwide consideration and stress to carry out. However extra importantly, he discovered individuals who embraced his religion as a part of his identification.
“I’m a really sturdy follower of Christ,” he mentioned. “Right here, the coaches assist that. They’ve given me the area to share it, to reside it.”
One of many first teammates he related with was Brian Walters, a fellow pitcher and chief on the staff. Collectively, they now assist lead Sunday morning Bible research for his or her teammates. They meet over breakfast, espresso and scripture. This weekly ritual is now the center of Miami’s baseball brotherhood.
“Religion is all the pieces,” Walters mentioned. “Griffin got here in, and we simply clicked. We knew we had been positioned right here not simply to be gamers, however disciples.”
Earlier than each recreation, he reads his New Worldwide Model (NIV) Bible close to the outfield wall, prays on the mound, and posts a Bible verse to his Twitter account. It’s not performative, it’s intentional. It’s the rhythm that retains him grounded, regardless of the stress.
“Some individuals in all probability assume I’m speaking to myself on the market,” he joked. “However I’m actually simply casting my ideas onto God. That’s how I keep centered.”
That internal focus is what units Hugus aside.
Teammates and coaches describe him as somebody who bounces again shortly, by no means getting too excessive or too low. When an ACL damage sidelined him final 12 months, he didn’t sulk. As an alternative, he rehabbed, mirrored, and returned stronger.
“He’s at 110% now,” Walters mentioned. “He’s relentless. He works day-after-day, and he makes everybody round him higher.”
Hugus leads together with his coronary heart. He’s the one hyping up the dugout on off days, organizing steak nights for teammates, and making time for teenagers after video games.
These children have began displaying as much as video games sporting glasses, similar to him.
“I’ve had little children come up and say, ‘You’re my favourite participant as a result of I put on glasses too,’” Hugus mentioned. “It’s wild. However it’s additionally a reminder — they’re watching. I would like them to see somebody who performs arduous, leads with love, and doesn’t conceal who he’s.”
Off the sphere, he’s simply as dynamic. He’s a homebody who loves listening to deal with music, studying scripture, and grabbing breakfast at Bagel Emporium. He swears by his Publix rooster tender sub with buffalo sauce, ranch, cheese, and lettuce. He jokes that his teammates up north “simply don’t get it.”
He’s additionally a proud canine dad to Nike and Cooper, two rescue mixes from Huge Canine Ranch Rescue.
“They act powerful, however they’re sweethearts after the primary 30 seconds,” he laughed. “It’s hilarious watching my mates get scared after which fall in love with them.”
Probably the most grounding a part of his life is his highschool sweetheart, Julianna Disalvo. Now a pupil on the College of Florida, she’s been his largest assist system by lengthy street journeys, powerful video games, and late-night calls.
“She’s my rock,” Hugus mentioned. “Now she is aware of sufficient about baseball to name me out if I play badly — which implies I’ve bought to remain sharp.”
With one 12 months of eligibility left, Hugus hopes to return as a staff captain, mentor youthful gamers, and deepen the tradition he’s helped construct. He nonetheless desires of the MLB. However he additionally desires of beginning a household in Florida, touring to Rome to see historical historical past, and perhaps changing into a chaplain sometime.
For Griffin Hugus, the legacy he leaves gained’t be measured in wins. Will probably be within the lives he’s touched. In dugouts, in pews, and perhaps even behind a pair of rec specs.