040: Know Your Worth Lenten Series, Session 3. Co-hosted with Rachel Isaac and live interview with J.J. Niekro and Clay Tucker - What is your identity?
Virtuous Athlete
This special episode is the third session of the Know Your Worth Lenten Series that was co-hosted with Rachel Isaac from CatholicCounselors.com. We sat down for a live interview with J.J. Niekro and Clay Tucker during our 2026 CAC High School Baseball Showcase, which we host for Ohio High School Opening Weekend. We bring 8 of the best Catholic High School Baseball teams together for their first games, and we have a Welcome Dinner with a featured speaker. This year, our featured speaker was J.J. Niekro. During this roundtable discussion about athletic identity and finding worth beyond sports, the conversation centered on how athletes can maintain their identity in Christ when their athletic careers end due to injury or other circumstances, with Clay and J.J. sharing personal experiences about transitioning away from golf and baseball. The discussion explored topics including the difference between redemptive suffering and passive suffering, the importance of finding identity in faith rather than in athletic roles, and the challenge of avoiding comparison with others. We also discussed the role of community and friendship in supporting each other's spiritual growth, and shared practical advice about maintaining spiritual routines and habits.