Clayton Hodges, Episcopal Baseball Player, Headed to JU
Coming from a family full of athletes, it was no surprise that senior Clayton Hodges would continue the baseball legacy within his family. The 18-year-old comes from a line of baseball athletes, including his grandfather who was drafted into the Yankees (but couldn’t continue due to also being drafted to the Vietnam war) and his father, who played all throughout high school. Baseball was destined to be a part of his life.The Jacksonville University commit has been playing the sport ever since the age of four with no years off and always perfecting his game.
What makes Hodges different from other baseball players out there? He says it’s his reason for playing the game. Hodges is a young man of faith, which keeps him grounded. He uses the gift that has been given to him on the baseball field to glorify God’s name.
“I’m really faith oriented,” said Hodges. “I want the way that I play baseball, for people to see Jesus through that. I want to be a light in the way that I play the game.”
Another player you would think of that gives all his credit to God is football and baseball player Tim Tebow, who is someone that Hodges looks up to as an athlete. Tebow always puts his best foot forward and works hard no matter how difficult it can be. Hodges takes one of Tebow’s quotes and applies it to his work ethic.
The quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
“That quote really struck a nerve,” said Hodges. “When I was younger I was not thinking that I would even be playing college baseball just because I was so small or nobody would even look at me, but I knew that I wanted to do that.”
Read more of his story in the Northeast Florida Summer 2021 magazine below:
