Kevin Burrell

Wednesday March 18, 2026 “Fan or Follower?” By Kevin Burrell “At this point many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” John 6:66-67 Baseball Coaches and Scouts Imagine a crowded stadium on game day. Thousands of people fill the seats wearing jerseys, waving banners, and cheering loudly for their favorite team. They know the players’ names, sing the fight song, and celebrate every victory. They are passionate fans. But when the game ends, those fans go home. They don’t attend practice the next morning. They don’t run the drills. They don’t watch film. They don’t endure the discipline, the sweat, the sacrifice, or the cost of being on the team. A player, however, lives a completely different reality. The player shows up early. The player trains when it’s hard, listens to the coach, follows the playbook, studies video, and stays committed even when the crowd disappears. Being on the team requires obedience, sacrifice, and daily commitment. In the same way, there is a difference between being a fan of Jesus, and being a follower of Jesus. Fans admire Jesus from a distance. They like His teachings, enjoy the songs about Him, and may cheer when they hear inspiring sermons. But admiration from the seats costs very little. Followers step onto the playing field. Followers listen to Jesus and shape their lives around His words. They choose forgiveness when it’s difficult, love when it’s inconvenient, and obedience when it’s costly. Following Jesus means surrendering control and trusting Him with every area of life. Jesus never called people to be His fans, He called them to be fully-trained disciples. He called them to be a committed follower. Jesus fed 5000, many followed Him for food and miracles. But when Jesus began teaching hard truths, most walked away. Jesus often taught in synagogues, many listened, but few accepted His message. Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane with eleven disciples before His arrest; eight stayed near the entrance, three went further to pray, all fell asleep, and only one stood by Him at the foot of the cross. Listen Closely: Here is the hard truth. The closer you get to the cross, the smaller the crowd becomes. I encourage you today, don’t simply be a “fan” of Jesus—be a committed “follower” of Jesus. Don’t leave. Don’t walk away. Don’t abandon Him. Be bold. Be committed. Be faithful. Be His Disciple! Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

And the #WorldBaseballClassic award for best actor goes to ... Sam Antonacci!

Sam Antonacci plays in the WBC semifinals tonight against Venezuela. He’s been an X-factor for Team Italy. Not surprised. His answer here revealed a lot about him.

Monday March 16, 2026 “Paid In Full” By Kevin Burrell “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17 Baseball Coaches and Scouts Long ago, there lived a just and loving king. One day, it was discovered someone had been stealing his gold. As a result, he issued a decree that the punishment for stealing his gold would be forty lashes, which was a death sentence. Weeks went by and the gold continued to be stolen. Eventually, it was discovered to be the king’s very own daughter stealing the gold. Because he was a just king, he had to follow through with his decree that the punishment for stealing his gold would be forty lashes. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be just. On the day the sentence was to be carried out, the king’s daughter was brought before the crowd and laid upon the executioner’s table, face down. Her garment ripped open to expose the flesh on her back so the full force of each strike of the whip could be felt…and heard. It grieved the king seeing his daughter suffer the brutal consequences of her crime. The time came for the executioner to carry out the punishment. He raised the whip above his head, readying himself to deliver the first of the forty deadly blows. Just as the first violent strike was about to descend upon her bare back, the king stepped forward and thundered, “Stop!!!” The crowd fell silent as the king advanced towards where his daughter lie. Standing face to face with her executioner, he tore open his own shirt and, because he was also a loving king, laid himself across her; wrapping his arms completely around her so no part of her would be exposed and struck. Lying across his daughter, his exposed back vulnerable to the cruelty of the whip and the impending death it would inflict, he looked back at the executioner and said, “Now hit her.” Listen Closely: The just and loving king took the punishment for his daughter’s sin, the sin she committed against him. You see, the king paid a debt he did not owe—because his daughter owed a debt that she could not pay. This is a small illustration of what Jesus did for all of humanity. The King of kings came into this world saying, “I have come to save you, to pay the ransom of your sins, to endure the punishment of death in your place; I will die so that you may live.” “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 Your sin debt has been “paid in full” Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

@CoachMando5 💯!!!

@KevinBurrellMLB Know your circle, influence your circle, expand that influence into other circles.

Super proud of my 2024, 5th round draft pick from @CoastalBaseball - Sam Antonacci and Team Italy, advancing to the WBC Semifinals in Miami.

Wisdom for today… Work is a transaction, not a friendship contest. Show up, post up, do your job, stay in your lane, earn your pay, and don’t get caught up in office politics, gossip or unnecessary drama. Keep your personal life separate from your professional life, because the same people laughing with you today, will sit silent when things turn against you tomorrow.

Friday March 13, 2026 “Finish The Race” By Kevin Burrell “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 Baseball Coaches and Scouts Imagine standing at the starting line of a race. The crowd is loud, adrenaline is high, and every runner is focused on one thing—the finish line. When the starters gun goes off, each runner begins with energy and excitement. But with each stride, the race becomes harder. Muscles ache. Breathing gets heavier. Some runners slow down, while others succumb to injury. That is the story of Derek Redmond during the 400-meter semifinal race in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Derek started out strong. However halfway through the race, he suddenly tore his hamstring and collapsed on the track in pain. His Olympic dream dashed forever. Most runners would have stayed down. The race was already lost. However Derek did something remarkable—he got back up. Limping in agony, he began hopping down the track on one leg, determined to finish the race. At that moment, a man ran onto the track from the stands and pushed his way past the security guard—wrapping his arms around Derek. It was his father, Jim Redmond. Together, father and son—slowly walked the final stretch of the race. The crowd stood to their feet in thunderous applause as they crossed the finish line together. Derek didn’t win the race. He didn’t earn a medal. But he finished what he started. That moment captures the heart of the Christian journey. There will be seasons of life when we run strong and confident. However there will also be moments when life wounds us—punching us in the gut, when our faith feels heavy, when prayers go unanswered, when we feel like collapsing on the track and throwing in the towel. Yet, it is in those moments that God does not leave us there. Like a loving Father stepping onto the track, God meets us in our pain or weakness. When we feel like we cannot go another step, He holds us up and walks with us. Listen Closely: At the end of his life, the apostle Paul didn’t say he ran the fastest race. He didn’t say the race was easy. Instead he said: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” That should be your battle cry as well; not perfection, not first place, but to finish the race with a faithful heart. One day, when you cross the finish line of your life, you will realize something beautiful: you never ran the race alone. God was right beside you the entire way. And that will be the moment you will hear the words every runner longs for: “Well done!” Fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith. Finish well! Love God. Love People. Love Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

Italy infielder Sam Antonacci keeps turning heads in the WBC with his baseball IQ. That's why people call White Sox GM Chris Getz asking for him. "If we have interest in acquiring a player from another team, the first player they always ask for is Sam." nytimes.com/athletic/71082…

Nothing greater than watching100-115 Baseball Coaches & MLB Pro Scouts all across America gathering together through Zoom every Monday morning for bible study, accountability, prayer. Learning how to Be and Build disciples of Christ.

"I'm very confident that the South Side is going to enjoy watching Sam Antonacci when the time comes." The #WhiteSox No. 9 prospect has flashed his electric playing style during spring camp and with Team Italy in the #WorldBaseballClassic: atmlb.com/4rkthFb

Wednesday March 11, 2026 “A Servant’s Heart” By Kevin Burrell “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” Matthew 20:26 Baseball Coaches and Scouts In a world that often celebrates recognition, position, titles, and being first, Jesus teaches a very different path to greatness—the path of service. A servant’s heart is not about seeking attention, but about noticing the needs of others around us and then responding with humility, kindness, and care. It’s seeing a need, then filling the need. Sometimes the best examples of this kind of heart are found in ordinary places from ordinary people. Consider Haley, the M-Club guest service representative at the Marriott Hotel in Greenville, SC. Every day she greets guests who are traveling; often tired, sometimes stressed, and sometimes simply looking for a moment of comfort. Haley meets them with a warm smile and genuine kindness. She pays close attention to the small details—refilling coffee before someone asks, remembering a guest’s name and preference, and making sure the lounge feels welcoming, comforting inviting and peaceful. Her work is not about recognition or applause. It’s about serving, kindness and care. Haley focuses on serving others before herself. She creates an environment where people feel welcomed, valued and seen. Her kindness, friendliness and attentiveness transform a routine stop into a moment of hospitality and rest. This kind of attitude reflects the heart of Christ. Jesus, the King of Kings, washed the feet of His disciples. He healed, comforted, fed, and listened. His life showed us that true greatness is found in humility and service. A servant’s heart notices needs others overlook. It chooses kindness when no one is watching. It values people over position. Like Haley in the Marriott M-Club, we each have opportunities every day to live this out—at work, at home, and in our communities. Serving others doesn’t always require grand gestures. Often it’s the simple acts: a welcoming smile, a kind word, thoughtful attention, patience, or simply helping someone feel at ease. When we serve with this kind of heart, we reflect God’s heart of love in practical ways. Do you want to be great? Serve others before serving yourself. Just ask Haley. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

Chicago had its prints all over USA vs. Italy in the @WBCBaseball

Listen to what John Smoltz says about Sam Antonacci’s instincts to score Italy’s 8th run. 👀

Sam Antonacci powers another homer for Team Italy! #WorldBaseballClassic

THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX ARE SINGLE-HANDEDLY BEATING TEAM USA 😳 Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci each go deep in the second inning off Nolan McLean 🍿 (@WBCBaseball)

“As a pitcher, your job is to pitch to contact. I don't care how hard you throw. Your velocity isn't what's most important. The location of your pitches is. So my advice to young arms is to learn how to pitch.” - Billy Wagner, Hall of Fame Pitcher

Monday March 9, 2026 “The HomePlate Meeting” By Kevin Burrell “I glorified You on earth, by finishing the work that You gave me to do.” John 17:4 Baseball Coaches and Scouts In college baseball, most people see the lineup cards, the signals from the dugout, and the pressure to win games. But sometimes the most meaningful moments happen before the first pitch, when almost no one is watching—at homeplate where coaches cover ground rules and exchange lineup cards with the umpires, occasionally something unusual happens. Last week, Kermit Smith the head baseball coach at Appalachian State University and Jim Chester the head baseball coach at Gardner Webb University, quietly turned that routine meeting into a moment of ministry. They placed Christ before themselves. Instead of simply discussing ground rules and exchanging lineup cards, they gathered with the umpires to ask them a simple question: “Can we pray together before the game?” In that small circle on the dirt, the pressure of competition pauses. Heads bow. Eyes close. A prayer is offered, not for wins or losses—but for safety, thanksgiving, integrity, and for God to be honored. Most fans never see it. But heaven doesn’t miss it. Two Division I head coaches. Four umpires. A small prayer circle in the dirt. No cameras. No announcements. Just two men living out their faith quietly. Both men in that moment leveraging their influence as disciple-making leaders disguised as college head baseball coaches. Listen Closely: Jesus’ words in John 17:4 remind us that the goal of life is not personal recognition, it is faithfulness to the assignment right where God has planted you. For some, that assignment is preaching from a pulpit. For others, it looks like: • Writing out a lineup card. • Leading a practice. • Mentoring players. • Praying with umpires at homeplate. Coaches like Kermit Smith and Jim Chester show that ministry doesn’t always happen in churches or on mission fields in remote parts of the world. Sometimes it happens: • In dugouts! • On bus rides! • In locker rooms! • At homeplate! Their influence extends far beyond wins and losses. Players watch how they lead. Umpires experience unexpected encouragement. Opposing teams witness humility before competition begins. Remember—a lot more is “caught” than “taught.” And through it all, God is glorified. Few people will ever coach Division I baseball. However everyone has a field of influence. • Your office. • Your classroom. • Your team. • Your neighborhood. Like these coaches, ask yourself a simple question every day: “What work has God given me to accomplish here on earth today”? And when you faithfully live that out—even in small, unseen moments—you join Jesus in the prayer of John 17:4 “I glorified You on earth, by finishing the work that You gave me to do.” Sometimes the most powerful ministry in sports doesn’t happen under big stadium lights. Sometimes it happens in a quiet prayer circle around homeplate. Well done Kermit and Jim. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

While on the road in SC scouting @ USC, Jason Burke & I had the privilege of surprising Marlin McPhail (center) at his church. Grateful for men like this who model what it means to be “FAT” disciples: “Faithful, Available, & Teachable.” Missing our other group member, Bret Butler