For Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick, Catholic faith is more than a private belief. It is a guiding part of his life, influencing how he approaches professional baseball, serves his community, and uses his platform to share the Gospel.
The young Major League Baseball player has drawn attention for openly embracing his Catholic identity, including wearing a crucifix with his baseball uniform as a visible expression of his devotion to Christ.
“I want people to see I’m wearing it. I’m not using it as bling. I really want people to know that I have faith,” Frelick told the Catholic Herald in a 2024 interview, as highlighted in a recent report by LifeSiteNews.
His commitment to the Church began long before he became a professional athlete.
Raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, Frelick spent a decade serving at the altar at St. Brigid Parish. An accomplished high school athlete who competed in baseball, hockey, and football, he eventually chose to attend Boston College, a Jesuit Catholic university, where he also earned a minor in theology.
That decision reflected his desire to keep his faith at the center of his education and athletic career.
“I grew up as an altar server (at St. Brigid Parish) for 10 years,” Frelick explained to the Catholic Herald. “All of my success in sports is because I was given gifts from God and prayed hard about how to use them. I like to spread God’s word and be a disciple. That is why I chose a Jesuit school.”
Rather than viewing his athletic abilities as personal achievements alone, Frelick recognizes them as gifts entrusted to him by God.
His faith remains an important part of his daily routine, even amid the demanding schedule of Major League Baseball.
According to LifeSiteNews, Frelick makes attending Mass a priority whether he is at home or traveling with the Brewers. He also participates in Bible study with fellow teammates, finding opportunities for prayer and spiritual fellowship within professional sports.
“I read Bible verses and see how morality is key. I want to spread God’s word and be a good disciple for Him here on earth,” he told the Catholic Herald.
For Frelick, however, living as a Catholic means more than publicly professing his beliefs. It also means putting those beliefs into action through service to others.
In 2024, following the Brewers’ National League Central Division championship, Frelick chose to spend the next morning visiting children at a hospital rather than celebrating his team’s achievement with a day of rest.
As reported by the Catholic Herald, the outfielder has also demonstrated a commitment to supporting children and adults with special needs.
“As a Catholic, it comes back to being a good human being,” Frelick said. “I love giving back to the community, and as a kid, I looked up to players who did that.”
His actions reflect a central teaching of the Catholic faith: that love of God must be accompanied by love and service toward one’s neighbor.
Frelick’s relationship with the Church has also provided some lighthearted moments during his baseball career.
In a video interview shared during the opening week of the 2026 World Series, the Brewers player recalled attending Mass and discovering that the priest and parishioners were particularly enthusiastic about his team’s upcoming appearance.
“I went to Mass the other Sunday … and I think [the priest] gave me a little wink when I got Communion,” Frelick joked, according to a video interview referenced by LifeSiteNews.
The moment illustrated the connection between Frelick’s life as a professional athlete and the parish community that shares in his excitement.
At a time when professional athletes often receive attention for their performances, contracts, and public image, Frelick is using his visibility to communicate something he considers far more important.
His crucifix is not simply an accessory. It is a public reminder of the faith that has shaped his upbringing, his education, and his understanding of success.
Through his commitment to attending Mass, studying Scripture, supporting those in need, and speaking openly about God, Frelick offers an example of how Catholics can live their faith in the public eye without separating it from their professional responsibilities.
For young Catholics who admire professional athletes, his example carries a meaningful message: success and faith do not have to compete for first place in one’s life.
Whether on the baseball field, in the parish pews, or serving children in his community, Frelick continues to demonstrate that discipleship is not limited to Sunday worship.
And by wearing a crucifix where millions of baseball fans can see it, he makes clear that his Catholic identity is something he is proud to share.
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