Ballplayer hands out inspiration to his fans

When Salt Lake Bee infielder Adam Pavkovich gives an autograph, young fans sometimes get a bonus. He jots down a scripture reference for them to look up: Proverbs 3:5-6.

"When I was growing up," he says, "players would do that, and I couldn't wait to get home and see what it said. And I remember seeing Tim Salmon sign bats and baseballs with scriptures. It creates a special communication, I think, between the player and the fan."

Raised in a secular home, Adam didn't come to his faith through a bolt from the blue. His journey toward God has been more slow and methodical.

"God has used many other people in my life to reach me," he says. "Eventually, it all came together."

As a boy, Adam hooked up with a Christian youth group. The messages from the youth minister stayed with him. Later, while playing ball for the University of Alabama, another mentor was placed in his path.

"The University of Alabama had a great chapel leader," he says. "He was always a friendly voice during the games. He was someone you could talk to. I think that's when I really began to think about God and what was important in life."

A native of Florida, Pavkovich has pretty much adopted Utah as a summer home. In 2003, he batted .283 while playing in Provo. For the past five seasons, he's been with the Salt Lake Bees, batting .280 last year and hitting 22 home runs, the fifth-most in the Angels' organization. Last Thursday night, he not only hit a home run but was called on to pitch the final inning. In short, he has a reputation as a steady, solid player who's willing to do whatever is asked.

On Sundays, when not on the diamond, Adam and his girlfriend attend Southeast Baptist, K-2 or The Salt Lake City Rock Church. It's all about finding God's guidance.

Now, at age 27, he finds himself looking for guidance about his future. He has a lot of baseball ahead of him, but what lies beyond that, when he hangs 'em up?

"Eventually, I'd like to finish my degree," he says.

Any chance he'd become a "chapel leader" like the one man who changed his life?

"I'll leave that in God's hands," he says.

When asked if there was something he'd like to share with readers of this column, he thought carefully. Then he said: "If I wanted to let everyone know one thing, it would be that it's great to be a baseball player and to be able to do what I love. But in the end, everything is for the glory of God. Without him, my life would be nothing."

As for the scripture from Proverbs that Adam jots on those baseballs and bats, it's the Pavkovich motto for living:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

E-MAIL: jerjohn@desnews.com