Jon Gaston: Faith and Baseball

For as long as Jon Gaston can remember, two things have been part of his landscape.

Faith and baseball.

"When I was four or five years old, my dream was to play in the big leagues," Gaston explained. "I never thought about stopping after high school, or stopping after college, or stopping after the minors.

"I'm going to go as far as I can for as long as I can. God gave me a gift and I'm going to use it. I'm going to keep pushing for that dream; He's instilled it in my heart."

When it's written on your heart, it's wise to obey.

Gaston's first experience in Double-A baseball has, at times, been a test of his faith and abilities. He admits playing at this level is a big jump from High-A, where he enjoyed tremendous success at Lancaster of the California League.

But he's hit safely in 10 of the last 12 games (19-for-48/.396) with three doubles, three triples, three home runs, 11 runs scored and 10 batted in. His season batting average, which rested at .240 a dozen games ago, stands at .263.

There's no question Gaston can "wow" fans and opponents with his offensive prowess. Houston's seventh-round pick out of Arizona in 2008 led all of minor league baseball with 35 home runs a year later. The 23-year-old also topped the Cal League in games (139), runs (119), triples (15), total bases (310), extra-base hits (81) and sacrifice flies (10).

But a close second to the Whataburger Field din in response to Hooks home runs in 2010 is the collective gasp of anticipation when an enemy runner attempts to take an extra base on Gaston. He's made them pay a Texas League-leading 15 times. In fact, Gaston's .995 fielding percentage is best in the circuit; he committed an error for the first time on the next-to-last day of July (97th game).

And how long has Jon possessed a cannon for a right arm?

"I never really had a strong arm until high school," Gaston recalled. "That's when I started doing band work to strengthen some of the smaller muscles. The fall of my junior year at Arizona, I had shoulder surgery. It was arthroscopic, but I was still a little fearful of cutting loose once the season began. Then, in the middle of the season, I broke through the scar tissue."

And base runners in the Pac-10 Conference, New York-Penn, California and Texas Leagues would have to take that extra base at their own peril.

2008 was a life-changing year for Gaston. His shoulder got better. His team, the Arizona Wildcats, went 42-19 and advanced all the way to an NCAA Super Regional at Miami before falling to the Hurricanes. He was all-conference after posting a .312 average with 13 homers and 49 RBI. He came to the Third Annual Whataburger College Classic and made all-tournament, helping Arizona to a sweep of South Alabama, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Notre Dame (the Wildcats outscored opposition 37-0). He was drafted by the Astros.

But it was during a slump when Arizona coach Andy Lopez reminded Gaston to unplug from worry and trust in God.

"He reminded me, 'Don't fret. Don't fret. Be strong and courageous. Things do change. Don't worry about every day and how it affects the future. Take it for what it is and learn from it. Know your best days are ahead of you.'"

Gaston finds assurance in God's promise of a hope and a future. One of his favorite verses is Joshua 1:3... I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. It reminds Gaston of God's plan for his life, of His sovereignty.

It's a prayer his Idaho home church prays over him before Spring Training.

The Hooks right fielder admits he's a loner and avid reader. He's "not a big fiction guy," preferring books on spirituality, like those of Joel Osteen.

"Baseball's a negative sport," Gaston mused about the rate of failure. "His books put positive thoughts in my head. They're encouraging."

In addition to reading, Gaston loves movies. It doesn't bother him to watch them or dine alone. "I'll go to restaurants and movies by myself. I'm really very random."

But not when it comes to his game or his faith. The son of Steve and Sue Gaston, who played collegiate volleyball at Long Beach and Cal State-Los Angeles, respectively, knows he can go to either dad or mom when necessary.

"My father's been steadfast. When I get discouraged, I can talk to him. He knows about the importance of faith and the competitive nature athletes have. He's still teaching me as we go along.

"Mom's a former athlete, too. She knows about competitive nature. If I don't understand him I can always go to her and perhaps she'll give me another perspective.

"It's nice to have parents who were athletes and are Christians. I can fall back on them with my faith and competitive lifestyle."

Gaston dreams of the majors, but feels he'll likely stay in baseball no matter the resolution of his playing days. Coaching at the high school or college level interests him.

"That would give me a platform to positively influence young people. And, after all, that's what it's all about."

One platform Gaston's had recently is a time of testimony at Hooks Faith & Family Nights.

"I've come to understand the fear of public speaking," he joked, "but it gets easier each time."

It takes repetition to perfect a skill, and Jon Gaston has been gifted with many.

But God gets the glory.