Meet Zach Vogel

We recently connected with Zach Vogel and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Honestly, my purpose came out of the last place I expected…pain.

Growing up, my entire world revolved around baseball. That was the dream: play in the big leagues. Everything I did, everything I talked about, every school assignment I turned in somehow came back to baseball. In fact, one of my teachers even sent a note home telling my parents I wasn’t allowed to write about baseball anymore. That’s how locked in I was.

Then, when I was eight, everything changed. I was playing in a summer tournament and passed out while rounding the bases. It was literally in the middle of a play. That moment kicked off a long medical journey that led to a diagnosis two years later: a heart condition called Long QT Syndrome. And that same day, I was told I could never play baseball or any sport ever again.

I went from being the athletic kid with big dreams to feeling like a couch potato overnight. I was angry at God. I remember thinking, How could You say You love me and then take away the one thing I love most? Anxiety and panic attacks followed, which led into depression. I isolated myself in my room… and that’s where I stumbled on Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

That verse cracked something open in me. I rededicated my life to Christ and realized my identity was never as a “baseball player.” It wasn’t wrapped up in performance or success. My identity was found in Christ alone, being a child of God. And with that came a new purpose: to use my pain to help others see they’re not alone, that their story has purpose too, and that there really is light at the end of the tunnel.

For years afterward, I had to keep going back for tests and check-ups. About five years into that process, I got connected with Dr. Michael Ackerman at the Mayo Clinic—the leading doctor for Long QT. He told me about a newer surgery option that could potentially allow me to return to sports. And by the grace of God, it worked. I was given a second chance to play baseball.

But this time, baseball wasn’t who I was. It was simply where God had placed me to be a light to my teammates, to coaches, to anyone walking through their own battles. I eventually got recruited to play college baseball here in Phoenix and spent four years competing while also developing the heart and the tools that would later become Identity Sports.

And through all of it, I’ve learned this:
When we’re solid in our identity, we can withstand the pain, the heartaches, and all the challenges life throws at us.

That’s where purpose is found.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the Executive Director of Identity Sports, a ministry dedicated to helping athletes and sports fans around the world discover their true identity in Christ. We do this through live events like Tales From The Tour and Tales From The Dugout, where professional athletes, including Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Clayton Kershaw, Dansby Swanson, Albert Pujols and more, share their faith and life experiences in professional sports. These events take place during the week of the WM Phoenix Open and during Spring Training, and we’ve been hosting them since 2006.

About a year and a half ago, we also launched the Identity Sports Podcast, which features professional athletes from all sports talking about overcoming challenges and discovering their identity in Christ. Through our events, podcast, and social media channels, we’ve been able to make an impact in over 68 countries in the past two years alone.

There’s nothing more powerful than seeing a kid in a little league uniform hear their sports hero speak on stage, sharing life lessons that go beyond the game and into faith-filled principles they can live by. This is exactly the kind of support and encouragement I wish I had when I was going through my own struggles as a kid. That’s what makes this work so fulfilling, standing in the gap and showing the next generation they don’t have to face life alone.

We’re excited for our upcoming events, Tales From The Tour on February 2nd and Tales From The Dugout on February 16th. Both events are free, and you can find more details at identitysports.com/events.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First, ask questions and stay curious. Success is not linear, and it rarely looks like the highlight reels we see on social media. Social media gives the illusion that everyone has their life together and has never faced struggles, but we know that’s not true. Everyone has a story, and the key is to not let failures define you. Treat them as learning experiences, because the lessons learned in those moments are often what drive you to success and help you find the right path.

Second, never stop learning. Read books, do your homework, and continually expand your knowledge. Sustained growth is never accidental. The internet is full of resources. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by peers who have built successful companies and ministries, and I’ve never met someone unwilling to share how they overcame a challenge or built something meaningful. Not everything will stick, but by listening and taking pieces from different stories, you can apply them to your own journey.

Finally, surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you. Learning from others, observing their successes and failures, and applying those lessons to your own life is invaluable. Growth, perspective, and resilience come from curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn from every opportunity and experience.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Golf has been a big part of how I unplug and reset, giving me a chance to enjoy the scenery and step away from the day-to-day. I would encourage everyone to find something that intentionally allows you to disconnect. It should be a time away from your phone and everyday responsibilities, where you can focus your energy on something completely different for a few hours.

When a specific problem feels overwhelming, one of the best strategies is to pause, redirect your thoughts, and come back to it with a clear mind. Often, your brain continues working on the problem subconsciously, and that break can lead to a moment of clarity where the next step becomes obvious.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.identitysports.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/identitysports_official/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-vogel-6111a49a/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWktkmJjRG3wuX9IRqVnBsQ
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tx7dOKQ8Lw5oLuDkAOcto