Darryl Strawberry thanks Trump for pardon that makes him 'truly free and clean from all of my past'

Darryl Strawberry posted a heartfelt message thanking President Donald Trump for pardoning the eight-time MLB All-Star The New York Mets legend was pardoned the White House broadcasted Friday in part because of turning to faith and remaining sober after turning his life around from drug and alcohol abuse that fueled arrests and suspensions Thank you President realdonaldtrump for my full pardon and for finalizing this part of my life allowing me to be truly free and clean from all of my past Strawberry wrote on Instagram along with three photos of the two together CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COM At pm on the previous day I was home caring for my wife as she recovered from surgery when my phone kept ringing relentlessly Half asleep I glanced over and saw a call from Washington D C Curious I answered and to my amazement the lady on the line stated Darryl Strawberry you have a call from the President of the United States Donald Trump I put it on speakerphone with my wife nearby and President Trump spoke warmly about my baseball days in NYC praising me as one the greatest participant of the s and celebrating the Mets Then he advised me he was granting me a full pardon from my past My wife captured the moment on video and I was overwhelmed with gratitude thanking God for setting me free from my past helping me become a better man husband and father This experience has deepened my faith and commitment to working for His kingdom as a true follower of Jesus Christ This has nothing to do with politics it s about a man President Trump caring deeply for a friend God used him as a vessel to set me free forever I m Free I m Free I m So Humbled And Thankful The later years of Strawberry's career were riddled with legal troubles including an arrest in as a member of the New York Yankees for soliciting sex from a police officer who was posing as a prostitute That resulted in a -day suspension and months of probation along with district function TRUMP PARDONS EX-MLB STAR DARRYL STRAWBERRY AFTER FAITH SOBRIETY TURNAROUNDThe following year he tested positive for cocaine resulting in a suspension for the entire season effectively ending his career He served months in prison from to for violating non-drug rules at a healing center Strawberry also admitted to having sex between innings of his games After the season he was charged with tax evasion He was suspended to begin the season for cocaine and admitted to having a substance abuse trouble The eight-time All-Star met his current wife at a drug recovery convention In an ironic twist Strawberry appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice hosted by Trump in During his nine prime years when he was named the National League Rookie of the Year and an All-Star eight times Strawberry was a hitter with an OPS averaging home runs and RBI per games Strawberry won the World Series with the Mets in and with the Yankees in and He had been the Mets' franchise leader in home runs with until Pete Alonso surpassed him earlier this season The Associated Press contributed to this summary Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter