To every young hitter…pay close attention to Sam Antonacci and how he is thinking “hard hit hustle double” out of the box. Not settling for his base hit and making a lazy turn at first base. Play the game hard. Play the game the right way, and never take the game for granted.

Monday October 26, 2026 “The Touch of Compassion” By Kevin Burrell “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be healed!” Mark 1:40-41 Coaches and Scouts In 2020, COVID swept across our world. Fear changed the way we interacted with one another. When someone tested positive, we kept our distance. We avoided touch, isolated the sick, and feared getting near someone who might be contagious. Even those who desperately needed comfort sometimes had to endure suffering, and even death without the reassuring touch of their loved one. We understood the need for precautions, but the experience revealed something about humanity: When we become afraid of what someone carry’s, we can forget the person who is carrying it. Sadly, that same tendency exists beyond sickness. We often distance ourselves from people whose pain makes us uncomfortable; the homeless, the addicted, the incarcerated, the grieving, the disabled, and those carrying the shame of past failures and mistakes. We may not physically push them away, but we can withdraw our presence, our affection, our compassion, and even our touch. Then we encounter Jesus in Mark 1:40–41. Read it again. “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and [touched] him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be healed!” Lean into the scene. This man had a disease that brought physical suffering and isolation from society. Under the customs and purity regulations of that time, people with leprosy faced separation from the community. The man knew what it meant to be avoided, rejected, unloved, unclean, and untouched. But Jesus responded differently. Look carefully at what He did. Don’t miss it. BEFORE the man was healed, Jesus touched him! That touch communicated something powerful: • You are not forgotten. • You are not beyond My reach. • Your condition does not diminish your value and worth. In that moment: Deity Touched Humanity! Jesus saw more than a disease. He saw a person who needed healing, dignity, compassion, and touch. Listen Closely — People around you today are alone and isolated. Be mindful. Be intentional. Be compassionate. Offer a welcomed hug. A gentle hand on the shoulder. Holding someone’s hand while they grieve. Sitting beside someone who feels alone. Sometimes these simple gestures communicate what words cannot: “I see you. I care. You don’t have to face this alone.” Compassion is more than feeling someone else’s pain. Compassion moves us to respond. So, this week, reach out to someone who may be hurting. Make the call. Offer help. Sit and listen. And when it is appropriate and welcomed, offer a gentle, caring touch. • Jesus saw the man. • Jesus felt compassion. • Jesus touched him. May we do the same. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

“Plans go wrong for lack of advice; but many advisers bring success.”
Proverbs 15:22 Coaches and Scouts The people you surround yourself with WILL determine the quality and direction of your life. Therefore, surround yourself with wise people who will sharpen you. Do more listening than speaking. And never be too proud to ask for advice.

Was beyond excited to get Joey in the 2026 MLB Draft. Big power arm with a bright future. Pitches to kill not to wound.

Friday October 23, 2026 “Prioritizing What Matters Most” By Kevin Burrell “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” Mark 1:35 Coaches and Scouts Successful athletes understand the importance of discipline. They know that success rarely happens by accident. It takes preparation, consistency, sacrifice, and a willingness to do the little things when nobody is watching. They have the ability to say NO to good things—so they can say YES to the best things. Coaches expect those qualities from the athletes they coach and the people they lead. But do we demand and demonstrate the same discipline in our own lives? Mark 1:35 gives us a powerful picture of Jesus’ priorities. Don’t miss it. Before daybreak, He got up, found an isolated place, and spent time praying to His Heavenly Father. Jesus had a demanding schedule, and people constantly pulling and seeking His attention. Yet He made time with the Father a priority. Maybe Jesus was a morning person! We don’t know for sure. What we do know for certain is that He was intentional. Very intentional. He didn’t allow the demands of the day to determine whether He would spend time with His Father. That was non-negotiable. He made that time a priority before the day’s distractions began. He managed His calendar, His calendar didn’t manage Him. He told His time where to go and what to do—His time didn’t manage Him. Yes! Jesus understood the difference between “good things” and the “best things.” Coaches and Scouts face endless demands. There are practices to plan, recruits to engage, film to study, prospects to evaluate, calls to make, reports to write, and relationships to build. Many of these are good things. But even “the good” can become enemy of “the best.” If we aren’t careful, we can spend so much time preparing to lead others, that we neglect our own fellowship with God. We can pour into our athletes, serve our programs, and pursue scouting success while allowing our spiritual lives to suffer and run on empty. What if we approached our time with God the way we approach preparing for a big conference series or scouting an important draft prospect? What if we protected that time, planned for it, and refused to let distractions steal it? The challenge is simple: Before you lead others, spend time with the One who leads you. Get up a little earlier. Put the phone down. Power down the PC. Open God’s Word. Read it. Pray. Listen. Let God shape your heart before the world starts making demands on your time. Listen Closely — Your discipline in private will determine your leadership and influence in public. The greatest investment you make in your coaching or scouting career will not happen on the field, in the film room, or on the scouting trail. It will happen in the quiet moments before daybreak, when you meet with your Heavenly Father. The challenge? Establish a consistent time each morning to meet with God. Protect it like you would one of your family members. Don’t wait until you have extra time. Make the time. Because what gets put in your calendar gets prioritized. Remember: Time is God’s gift to you, how you steward that time is your gift back to Him. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

Heartbroken to learn of the passing of Todd Benzinger. Todd and I were roommates when we played professional baseball together in the minor leagues. I got to see up close the kind of man he was. A tremendous teammate, and one of the kindest people I’ve known in this game. He made everyone around him better, and treated people with great respect. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and everyone who loved him. 🙏

Wednesday October 21, 2026 “Brokenhearted?—God Is Close” By Kevin Burrell “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalms 34:18 Coaches and Scouts, invest their time, energy, and hearts into developing athletes, evaluating prospects, and helping others succeed. However behind every season, draft pick, and professional achievement is a person who faces struggles others may never see. Heartbreak can come through a disappointing season, a missed opportunity, a failed marriage, isolation, rejection, criticism, or the pressure to prove ourselves. We may feel overlooked, misunderstood, or unappreciated despite everything we give. We love a game that doesn’t always love us back. If that describes you, lean into the following truth — Your worth it’s not defined by your win-loss record, reputation, draft success, or the opinion of others. God sees your pain, and He deeply cares. Where is God when opportunities disappear, expectations become overwhelming, or disappointment weighs heavily on our hearts? He Is Close! Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God does not abandon us in our pain. Even when we cannot understand our circumstances or see Him working, His presence remains. As coaches and scouts, we spend our careers scouting talent, correcting swings, fixing deliveries, or making dreams become reality. But how often do we allow God to work on our own hearts? We know how to encourage an athlete after failure — yet struggle to extend that same grace to ourselves. We cannot pour into others while neglecting the restoration our own hearts need. God Can Replace — • Guilt with forgiveness. • Resentment with peace. • Anxiety with faith. • Bitterness with grace. For the coach facing a difficult season, He offers renewed purpose. For the scout who feels overlooked, He reminds you that recognition does not determine your value. And for every GM, Director, Field Manager, or Head Coach carrying unseen burdens; He offers healing, hope, mercy and strength. It is easy to become consumed by other people’s expectations, past failures, and future fears. We can become so focused on proving ourselves that we forget that our true identity is found only in Christ, not in our personal achievements. Never forget: You are more than your win-loss record, rankings, job title, or latest major league draft pick. Do not let disappointment harden your heart or pressure steal your peace. Bring your struggles to God. Trust Him with your frustrations, fears, and uncertainties—and allow Him to restore what has been wounded. Listen Closely — Your heart may experience brokenness, but it does not have to remain broken. God wants to develop more than your professional skills and abilities. He wants to strengthen your character, shape your conduct, deepen your faith, and develop you into a leader who serves others with wisdom, humility, and compassion. Your impact will not be measured only by the games you win or the prospects you draft, but also by the lives you touch, the character you demonstrate, the conduct you display, and the faith you maintain when life doesn’t go according to your plan. Keep leading. Keep serving. Keep believing. When your heart is heavy, remember: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted—and He is close to you. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin

#Chemistry #WhiteSox

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

A very special post from my son. Honored to be inducted into the “Georgia Dugout Club Hall of Fame on December 11, 2026 gadugoutclubbaseball.org/arc…

A good reminder someone needs to hear

Monday October 19, 2026 “Answering The Call—Immediately" By Kevin Burrell "Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' They [immediately] left their nets and followed Him." Mark 1:17-18 Coaches and Scouts, There are few things more frustrating than trying to reach someone who won't answer your call. You call once, no answer. You call again, crickets. We all know that feeling. But have you ever considered how often the Lord calls us, and we hesitate to answer? We say: “Maybe later God." "When things settle down." "I'm not ready yet.” One of the most remarkable words in this passage is found in verse 18: "Immediately." Picture the scene. Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee and sees Simon and Andrew casting their nets. They are fishermen, doing what they do every day. Jesus doesn't hand them a detailed plan or list the sacrifices ahead. He simply says, "Follow Me." And they “immediately” leave their nets and follow Him. They didn't wait to understand everything. They didn't ask for a five-year plan or a guarantee. They responded to the call. So where does the Lord find you today? Focused on your career, your team, your recruiting, your next promotion? There is nothing wrong with those things. But what if God wants to use the very place He has planted you to accomplish something far greater than you realize? Jesus saw in Simon and Andrew more than they saw in themselves. He sees more in you, too. As coaches and scouts, we know what it means to recognize "overall future potential" in someone before they see it themselves. We recruit, teach, train, develop, and equip people to become more than they could on their own. But what if our greatest calling isn't just to build winning teams or discover the next great player? What if Jesus wants to develop "Disciple Making Leaders" through you? He may not be calling you to the other side of the world. But He is calling you to serve Him right where you are: in the weight room, on the field, in the locker room, on the recruiting trail, and in the relationships He has given you. Just as He promised Simon and Andrew, He will teach, train, and equip you to become a "fully trained disciple maker" (Luke 6:40). You don't have to know every detail. You only have to be willing to follow. Listen Closely — Here is one final question: How long will it take you to say yes? You can hold on to your nets, your comfort, your ease and your own plans, or you can trust Jesus enough to follow Him into His purpose for your life. The same Jesus who called "unschooled, ordinary fishermen" is still calling coaches and scouts today. Will you follow Him, and will you do it “immediately?” Don’t wait any longer. Do it today. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, 
Kevin

Powerful word!… What every coach and leader at ANY level needs to listen to carefully. Why? Because people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care for them. #Truth

“Being confident of this very thing, that God who has begun a good work in you will complete it…” Philippians 1:6 Don’t give up on yourself just because you’re not where you want to be. Don’t lose heart because the process is taking longer than you expected. And don’t mistake a quiet season for an inactive God. You are still growing. You are still being shaped. God is still working! Trust His process, be patient with His timing, and keep walking by faith. God is still writing your story, and He isn’t finished with you yet! When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart. ♥️

Friday October 16, 2026 “Are You a Loyal Friend?” By Kevin Burrell “A friend is always loyal” Proverbs 17:17 Coaches and Scouts When the game and your career are over, what remains? Coaches retire. Scouts move on. Seasons end. Yet along the way, baseball gives us relationships that can last a lifetime. So whether you work in sports, or any other profession in life, we must honestly ask ourselves: do I have “authentic friendships,” or “transactional relationships?” Coaches can become so consumed with winning that the big "W" becomes the obsession. Scouts can become so focused on the next big signing that they start measuring people by their potential value. There's nothing wrong with winning or finding talent. Those are important parts of the profession. But when success matters more than the people beside us, we lose the true meaning of true friendship. A “transactional relationship” asks: “What can you do for me?" 
An “authentic friendship” asks: “How can I be there for you?" Which one describes you? Proverbs 17:17 says: A friend is always loyal. Not just when the team wins. Not just when a player reaches the big leagues. Not just when someone can open a door for you or secure your next promotion. No! A true friend is loyal ALL the time. So what happens when the player never makes it, the coach retires, or the scout moves on? Do you keep investing when there's nothing left to gain? That's where authentic friendship reveals itself. If we want meaningful friendships, we must first be willing to be a friend: • Make the call when you have nothing to ask for. • Check on a former colleague with no professional benefit in mind. • Reach out to a coach or scout or former work colleague simply because you care. • Invest in people for who they are, not just what they can do for you. You don't have to be a Hall of Fame coach or the most accomplished scout to make a lasting impact. You simply have to care enough to be present, honest, and loyal, and to love people beyond their usefulness to you. Because people don't care how much you know — until they know how much you care. So keep pursuing excellence. Keep coaching with passion. Keep identifying talent. But above all, be a loyal friend. Long after the final out, after your retirement, and after the next generation takes your place, “authentic friendships” not “transactional relationships” remain one of the greatest blessings in life. So make the call. Write the note. Send the text. Be a friend. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, 
Kevin

BE and BUILD Disciples @Coach_Burke_30 @JasonRomano @CoachMonteLee @KWBaseball @ImpactDisciples @ClintHurdle13 coaches.impactdisciples.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 “One Degree Off” By Kevin Burrell “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12 Coaches and Scouts Last week, the story of Caleb Flynn made national headlines. He was a music pastor in Ohio who had once appeared on American Idol. A jury convicted him of murdering his wife, Ashley, while he was having an affair with a young woman half his age. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A man who led others in worship every week in church now sits in a prison cell for the rest of his natural life, his wife gone and his daughters without a mother and father. None of us can see into another man’s heart, but this much is clear: no one starts out planning to end up there. A life like Caleb Flynn’s is never built in a single moment. It is built from small compromises, unguarded places in the heart, and warning signs left unchecked and unanswered. In aviation, there’s a principle called the “1-in-60 rule.” If a plane is just 1 degree off course, after 60 miles, it will be exactly one mile from its intended destination. One mile in the vast sky seems like nothing. But the error compounds. On a 3,000-mile transoceanic flight, being 1 degree off course lands the aircraft 50 miles from its intended destination. Think about that. The pilot never intended to miss the airport. There was no dramatic turn, no moment of rebellion. Just a small, unnoticed drift carried over a long distance. In a similar way, our walk with God works the same way. Rarely does anyone wake up and intentionally decide to wreck their life. We slowly drift. We skip our time in God’s Word for a day, then a week, then a month. We let a small compromise slide. We ignore our convictions. We tell ourselves it’s only 1 degree off course; it won’t hurt this time. However the longer we fly uncorrected, the farther we land from where God intended us to be. When we are off course in our daily fellowship with God, we wind up in places, relationships, and environments we never planned to be in. That’s why God has given us a navigational system that never fails. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 Don’t miss that! The Bible is our GPS. And a GPS is only useful when it’s on—and it can only correct a drift you’re aware of. Listen Closely — Make no mistake: there is an enemy who counts on your drift. He waits. He is patient. Then he comes in for the kill. Jesus said, “The thief (satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that you may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10 Satan doesn’t need to push you off a cliff. He only needs you to be 1 degree off course—and continue living that way. The good news is that course correction is always possible. The moment a pilot notices the drift, he adjusts, and the sooner he does the smaller the correction. The same is true for you. Whatever environment you’ve drifted into, God’s Word still points the way home. It’s never too late. Correct your course now, while you still have time. Where have you drifted 1 degree in your life? What is one action step you can take today to get back in the Word and get back on course in your relationship with God? Remember: A man who stays in the Word daily has a voice saying, “Recalculating” long before the drift becomes a destination. Never forget: If you don’t feel close to God, guess who moved. Love God. Love People. Live Sent. Be Worth Being, Kevin