Former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry celebrated the grand opening of his brand new substance abuse treatment center, Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center, located in St. Cloud, Florida.

The eight-time all-star and four-time World Series champion spoke with Christian Post about the new venture and what he hopes to accomplish with it. Strawberry and his wife, Tracy, partnered with Oglethorpe Healthcare Inc to bring DSRC to Florida.

"I think it's pretty amazing and awesome to be able to go back and really help people from a place where I came from," Strawberry, who is all too familiar with substance abuse, said.

Oglethorpe CEO John Picciano said several different programs will be made available at the DSRC. The center is implementing a 28-day residential treatment program and high performance neurofeedback (HPN) therapy for professional athletes who suffer from symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Jack Youngblood, an NFL Hall of Famer who played 14 seasons in the league in the 1970s and '80s, will lead the HPN program.

Strawberry who struggled with serious substance abuse throughout his career, wanted to do something that could help recovering addicts but also focus on special programs designed for athletes. Picciano said Strawberry has been an example that it is possible for someone battling addiction to turn his life around.

"So we believe in him...We believe in redemption. We believe in recovery. We believe that people get second and third chances in life," said Picciano.

Strawberry has stated numerous times that he wished he had a place that specialized in his specific struggles with substance abuse while he was a famous athlete. "If they have a chance to go to a place where they can identify with other people that live the same type of lifestyle, I think it would make a big difference in all their lives," Strawberry told The Christian Post.

Strawberry is now an ordained minister, and together he and his wife are the creators of Strawberry Ministries. The couple's ministry focuses on helping addicts, teens, people affected by autism, and more. However, their primary mission is to lead people to Christ.

Strawberry said DSRC will always have a counselor to encourage residents to get in touch with their spiritual side.

 "It's just not about the clients getting clean...it's about the wholeness of becoming in touch with their spirituality, becoming in touch with God," he said. He also said that when he visits the center he will share biblical principles with those who are receiving treatment.

Strawberry came to Christ in 1991 at a Morris Cerello conference but returned to his old ways because of the lack of discipleship he had. "If you don't get discipled you go back to the familiar," he said. "And I went directly back into the familiar, and the familiar is what the world is."

It was not until about 17 years later that Strawberry and his wife began to sense the call into full-time ministry. Strawberry said they spent five or six years growing in their faith before that happened.

"We're here because of what Christ has done in our life," said Strawberry. "And he will do the same in others lives, and our main goal is to get people to follow Jesus more than anything."

The New York Post recently reported the famous athlete no longer identifies himself with baseball.

"I don't follow baseball [any] more," the former Mets and Yankees outfielder said. Instead, he's focused on his purpose and ministry.

"I haven't been around baseball in years, that's not what I do anymore." said Strawberry to the paper. "It's a joy. I have purpose. I'm doing what I was created to do, not play baseball. Baseball was part of what I did, but I'm really doing what I was created to do now. I'm grateful for the fact I have the chance to help people." 

Strawberry and his wife have built a church in St. Louis and he continues to travel around the country, evangelizing.