Major League Baseball’s July 31 non-waiver trading deadline sent two players with Church of Christ ties to contending teams. Houston Astros center fielder Michael Bourn, a member of the Fifth Ward Church of Christ in Houston, was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Meanwhile, Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Brad Ziegler, a member of the East Grand Church of Christ in Springfield, Mo., was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Major-league veteran Josh Willingham has a well-deserved reputation as a man of faith and character. That’s why it surprised some fans to read about Willingham blowing up at an umpire the other night in Kansas City. Perhaps even Willingham himself was surprised at his emotional reaction in the heat of a close ballgame.

The Oakland A’s Brad Ziegler and the Washington Nationals’ Josh Willingham, both faithful members of Churches of Christ, could be close to playing on the same team. Fox Sports reports that the A’s are in serious discussions to obtain Willingham from the Nationals.

Brad Ziegler once spent six days in intensive care after he was hit in the head by a line drive in the minor leagues. He had his skull fractured again by a deflected thrown ball one offseason, so he’s had his share of frightening baseball experiences. On Friday night, Ziegler — a member of the East Grand Church of Christ in Springfield, Mo. — was struck below the right shoulder blade by a shard of Mike Napoli’s bat when it shattered in the ninth inning. “Just so everyone knows, I’m OK,” Ziegler said on Twitter. “Pretty scary, for the time being, just glad it wasn’t worse.”

At the end of August, minister Terry Rush — one of the world’s most dedicated St. Louis Cardinals fans — has a new book coming out. It’s called “MVP,” and Rush says: “‘MVP’ is written for the person who feels they’ve drawn the short straw in life. While it has a baseball flavor due to former Cardinals endorsing it, the book is completely Bible-based, simply targeting the sports world.”

I am at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., to see another brother in Christ play: Oakland A’s reliever Brad Ziegler. You may recall that The Christian Chronicle first featured Ziegler back in 2008 when he pitched an amazing 39 consecutive scoreless innings to start his career — a major-league record. I caught up with Brad in the visitor clubhouse this afternoon.