Ben Zobrist

Ben Zobrist
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 18
Second Baseman / Outfielder
Born: May 26, 1981 (1981-05-26) Eureka, Illinois
Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 1, 2006 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Career statistics (through August 23, 2011)
Batting average	.261
Home runs	67
Runs batted in	296
Teams
Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays (2006–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star selection (2009)

Benjamin Thomas "Ben" Zobrist (born May 26, 1981) is an American baseball player currently with Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. A switch-hitter who throws right-handed, he has exhibited a versatility to play most positions with the exception of pitcher and catcher. He has been the Rays' starting second baseman since 2009. Besides Zo, Zobi Wan Kenobi, Zoby and Benny-Zo, he is also known by the nickname Zorilla, given to him by Rays manager Joe Maddon.

Early life

Zobrist grew up in Eureka, Illinois, raised by his parents Tom and Cindi. He loved playing baseball since he was eight, so much so that he and his friends built their own wiffle ball field behind his house. After no pro scouts or college recruiters looked at him when he graduated, he thought baseball was over for him. "Baseball was not even a thought in my mind," Zobrist said, "When I was done with my last high school game, I was driving around town just thinking I'm done with baseball the rest of my life." Despite this, Zobrist's high school coach encouraged him to go the annual event that showcased seniors in Peoria, Illinois each summer. He played in the showcase, and was given an offer by Olivet Nazarene University and turned a great career while at Olivet. In his time at Olivet, he pitched and also played at shortstop and second. He transferred to Dallas Baptist University for his senior year, where he played shortstop.

Baseball career

Zobrist played in Wausau, WI in the Summer Collegiate Northwoods League in 2003. He was voted team MVP & led his team to the League Championship.

Zobrist was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 6th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. With right-handed pitcher Mitch Talbot, Zobrist was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for first baseman/designated hitter Aubrey Huff and cash on July 12, 2006. Zobrist was the team's starting shortstop through his first two seasons with them.

He struggled through parts of the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the Rays. One day he met a "swing mechanic" (batting coach) looking for students. The swing coach was able to help Zobrist, and it was evident to the Rays during the 2008 season. "He added the power component," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said, "He became a lot more physical."

For the most part, Zobrist was used as a right fielder and a back-up shortstop during the 2008 season. In certain situations where a fifth infielder was needed, he or BJ Upton (a former infielder himself) would be moved in from the outfield during the season. Zobrist went to his first World Series as a player with the Rays in 2008. His versatility was showcased during Game 3 of the 2008 World Series against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies when he came in as part of a double switch to play right field. However, Zobrist initially played unusually shallow, in essence becoming a fifth infielder.

Zobrist was placed in right field for the beginning of the 2009 season, and had since been made the starting second baseman after teammate Akinori Iwamura was injured. Zobrist hit three grand slams in 2009, leading the Rays, and was among the league leaders in slugging percentage. He earned himself a trip to his first All Star Game in St. Louis in 2009. The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America named him MVP of the Rays for 2009.

Zobrist led all hitters in the Majors in 2009 for wins above replacement with 8.6, ahead of Albert Pujols' 8.4 WAR.

On April 23, 2010, Zobrist and the Rays agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2013 season, with a team option for 2014 and 2015. The deal could be worth up to $30 million.

In 2010, Zobrist batted .238, with a .353 slugging percentage.

2011

On April 28, 2011, Zobrist hit a Tampa Bay Rays record 8 RBI's in a 15-3 rout of the Minnesota Twins.

Another game was held during the day to makeup for a previously rained out game and Zobrist drove in another 2 runs, making a total 10 RBI's for the day.

Personal life

Zobrist lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Christian singer Julianna Zobrist and their son, Zion Benjamin, who was born on February 1, 2009. Zobrist is a former counselor for Camp of Champions USA, a Christian summer day camp in central Illinois. He used Christian rap artist TobyMac's song "Ignition" as his entrance song during the 2008 and start of the 2009 season. He currently uses a song by his wife as his entrance music.

Zobrist often talks about his Christian faith, and how God helped him realize that he was supposed to play baseball. "I just felt like everything fell into place so much, that this is what I was supposed to do," Zobrist said, "This is what I was made to do." He often mentions during interviews how blessed he has been through his baseball career. He and Christian former teammate Gabe Gross have talked about how they organize Bible studies with their teammates. St. Pete Times writer Mark Topkin wrote how Zobrist does this with his teammates, saying Zobrist "doesn't judge or proselytize, refraining from forcing his beliefs on anyone, though willing to get involved if asked." Zobrist also chooses not to smoke, drink, or do drugs.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)