President Donald Trump granted a presidential pardon to former baseball player Darryl Strawberry, who previously faced charges of tax evasion and drug possession. The decision was confirmed this Friday by a White House official, who noted that the former Mets slugger has demonstrated a “profound personal transformation” in recent decades. Strawberry, 62, was one of the most prominent figures in Major League Baseball during the 1980s and 90s. An eight-time All-Star, he shone with the New York Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants, hitting 335 home runs, driving in 1,000 runs, and stealing 221 bases in 17 seasons. However, his career was marked by a series of personal problems, addictions, and legal proceedings. From the Diamond to the Courtroom: In 1995, Strawberry was accused of failing to declare $350,000 in income from autographs, public appearances, and the sale of sports memorabilia. The former player pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and agreed to pay more than $430,000 as part of the plea agreement. His troubles didn't end there. In 1999, he was suspended from baseball and sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to cocaine possession and soliciting prostitution. Over the following years, he repeatedly violated the terms of his sentence and ultimately served 11 months in prison in Florida before being released in 2003. Strawberry also faced serious health problems, including colon cancer diagnosed in 1998 and a heart attack in 2024, shortly before the Mets retired his iconic number 18. A New Beginning: The former player has maintained sobriety for over a decade and has dedicated himself to ministry work and a rehabilitation center he founded. Trump, who met him during his years in New York, highlighted his Christian faith and his "constant effort to redeem himself" as reasons for granting him full forgiveness. Strawberry shared a photo on Instagram with the former president and wrote: “Thank you, President Trump, for my full pardon and for closing this chapter of my life, allowing me to be truly free from my past.” In his message, he described how he received the call from Washington:"I was taking care of my wife when the phone rang. I was told the president wanted to speak with me. He expressed his admiration for my years with the Mets and told me he was granting me a full pardon. I was overwhelmed with gratitude." The former slugger ended his post by stating that this decision “has nothing to do with politics,” but rather with friendship and faith. “God used President Trump as an instrument to set me free forever,” I concluded.