Face of the Future
Atlanta Brave Jeff Francoeur sits down with STV

He can still feel it when it storms. The occasional tingling in the right side of his face whenever the thunder rolls through Atlanta. That’s where the 95 mph fastball smashed into his cheekbone as he was squaring around to bunt in what should have been his final at-bat for the Class-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Jeff Francoeur won’t forget that day. It was July 7, 2004—the day he had finally been called up to the Double-A Mississippi Braves, whom he would join the next day.

He’d had it all figured out. He would spend the rest of 2004 proving himself in Double A, make a great showing at Spring Training in March and then begin the 2005 regular season as the starting right fielder of the big-league club, the Atlanta Braves.

Instead, Francoeur landed in a hospital bed, wondering if he’d ever see out of his right eye again. The ball had broken both his orbital bone and his cheekbone and had endangered the clarity of his vision. As if sliders weren’t hard enough for him to see with perfect vision, Francoeur knew they’d be impossible if his sight was compromised.

But, thankfully, that wasn’t the final chapter of Francoeur’s story. During his stay in the hospital, his mother daily read to him Joshua 1:9 (NIV): “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Taking on that promised strength and courage, Francoeur bounced back—sight restored—and exactly one year later, got another call. On July 7, 2005, he left the minor leagues behind and made his major-league debut with the Atlanta Braves. 

Now almost two years later, Francoeur, 23, is an established star with one of the most respected MLB franchises. And while he has the fame, he’s sharing that message of strength, courage and faith with all who will listen—especially the kids who have deemed him their right-field hero. He speaks regularly at FCA banquets, engages with student-athletes at weekend retreats and even distributes Scripture to young fans by jotting “Joshua 1:9” on his batting gloves, which he gives away after games.

        Read More of Sharing The Victory Magazine's interview with Jeff Francoeur

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