Zorilla, also known as Ben Zobrist, is a former professional baseball second baseman and outfielder from the United States. He participated in Major League Baseball as a player with the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and some other league too.
Early Life, Family, & Education
Ben Zobrist, a retired professional baseball player also known as “Zorilla,” was proudly welcomed into the world by his parents Cynthia and Tom Zobrist on May 26, 1981, in Eureka, Illinois.
Ben’s father serves as head pastor of the Eureka-based Liberty Bible Church. He has four siblings Serena Zobrist, Noah Zobrist, Peter Zobrist, and Jessica Zobrist.
Ben has been playing baseball since he was eight years old, in addition. He had a genuine love for baseball from the time he was a little child.
Even the Wiffle ball field that Ben and his buddies constructed behind his house. It seems as though he had always known that playing baseball was his calling.
Ben received his schooling at Eureka High School, where he graduated in 1999.
After his final high school game, he believed baseball was very much done for him because none of the professional college recruiters or scouts had given him any consideration.
Ben thus intended to enroll in Kansas City, Missouri’s Calvary Bible College as his college.
Ben’s high school coach, however, disagreed and persuaded him to take part in the annual summer event that featured seniors in Peoria, Illinois.
He participated in a game and received a baseball scholarship offer from Olivet Nazarene University.
He pitched and played shortstop and second base at Olivet during that period. Indeed, his time in college served as a pivotal high point for his subsequent professional career.
Baseball Career and Profession
The 2002 Central Illinois Collegiate League Twin City Stars and the 2003 Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Summer Collegiate Northwoods League in Wausau, Wisconsin, were the teams that played in the games that helped launch Zobrist’s professional career.
He also received the squad MVP vote, and he later steered his group to the League Championship.
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Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Ben was selected by the Houston Astros in the sixth round of the 2004 amateur draft to play shortstop. On July 12th, 2006, he was exchanged for Aubrey Huff by the Rays.
With Tampa Bay, Zobrist made his MLB debut on August 1st, 2006. Ben struggled with Tampa Bay in the seasons 2006 and 2007.
He subsequently received assistance from the swing coach, though, and it became clear for the Tampa Rays during the 2008 season as he made it to his first World Series with the team.
2009 Season
After Akinori Iwamura’s injury during the 2009 Rays season, Tampa Bay Rays started Ben at second base and in right field.
While leading the Rays in 2009, Zobrist earned a trip to his first All-Star Game in St. Louis. His slugging percentage was among the highest in the league thanks to his three grand slams.
The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America awarded him MVP of the Rays for the League as a result of his outstanding performance.
In the 2009 season, Zobrist’s manager Joe Maddon gave him the infamous moniker “Zorilla.”
2010 Season
On April 23, 2010, Zobrist and the Rays came to an agreement on a $30 million three-year deal that would last through the 2013 season and includes a team option for the following two seasons.
(2011-2013) Season
Ben had eight RBIs in the 15-3 blowout over the Minnesota Twins on April 28, 2011, during the 2011 season.
The league played another game that day, and Zobrist once more drove two runs, giving him a total of 10 RBIs.
The Rays used Zobrist’s abilities in the 2012 league in a variety of positions, including shortstop, outfielder, and second baseman, as he had demonstrated them in prior seasons.
For the second time in his career, the League selected Zobrist as an All-Star for the 2013 season. On the other side, he also suffered a strikeout that season.
Chicago Cubs
On December 8th, 2015, Zobrist signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, where he was reunited with Joe Maddon, his former team manager at the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 2016 MLB World Series and National League Championship Series were attended by the Chicago Cubs.
After he scored the first two winning runs in the top of the 10th inning, he was awarded the World Series Most Valuable Player and was presented with his second World Series Ring.
Ben competed for the Gold Glove Award at second base in 2017. On August 14, 2018, Zobrist was dismissed for the first time in his professional career.
Furthermore, his career-high batting average happened in the same year.
Ben played 26 games in the first 26 games of the 2019 season before being put on the restricted list on May 6th, 2019 to attend to a family issue. In late July, he made his comeback public.
With the South Bend Cubs and Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Zobrist started his rehab assignment. In September of the 2019 season, he made his first Major League pitching appearance since arriving, striking out Yadier Molina.
Retirement
A baseball source named Jon Heyman revealed information about Zobrist’s non-playing intentions in February 2020.
On March 6, 2020, Ben announced his retirement and expressed his desire to return to the Cubs in a non-playing position in the future.
Net Worth
Baseball player Ben Zobrist is among the wealthiest and most well-liked players in the sport. Our research of Ben Zobrist’s net worth from sources like Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider indicates that it is about $1.5 million.
Wife and Children
In 2005, Julianna Zobrist, a Christian musician, and Ben Zobrist tied a knot. Zion Benjamin Zobrist, Kruse Allegra Zobrist, and Blaise Royal Zobrist are their three children.
On the same day in May 2019, Zobrist filed for a legal separation in Tennessee, while Julianna filed for divorce in Illinois.
Ben claimed that his wife had engaged in improper marital behavior, making continuing cohabitation difficult.
Despite filing cases for each other, the couple’s divorce has not been officially announced. The couples are still seen together in Ben’s Instagram image.
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Body Measurements
The former baseball great is 41 years old as well. Ben is an outstanding 6’3″ tall, has an athletic build, and weighs 90kg.
Regarding his physical characteristics, he has Brown eyes and Light Brown hair.
Social Media Presence
Like other baseball players, Ben also uses social media including Instagram and Twitter. He shares the images of his children. He has just shared 19 posts to date on Instagram.
Instagram – 296K followers
Twitter- 211.5K followers
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FAQ’s
What happened to Ben Zobrist?
On May 6, 2019, Ben Zobrist departed the league due to a family situation. His first season appearance following his sabbatical was in September 2019. Later, Ben declared that he would retire on March 6, 2020.
Which game did Zobrist most recently play?
Zobrist played for the Chicago Clubs team until his retirement. He played until 2019, and in his final two seasons, he only appeared in 47 games.
Is Ben Zobrist a member of the Hall of Fame?
Ben isn’t a member of the hall of fame.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Benjamin Thomas Zobrist |
| Birth Date | May 26th, 1981 |
| Birth Place | Eureka Illinois |
| Age | 41 Years Old |
| Nickname | Zorilla |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Education | Eureka High School, Calvary Bible College, Dalla Baptist University |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Father’s Name | Tom Zobrist |
| Mother’s Name | Cynthia Zobrist |
| Siblings | Serena Zobrist, Noah Zobrist, Peter Zobrist, Jessica Zobrist |
| Height | 6’3” (190 m) |
| Weight | 90 kgs |
| Build | Athletic |
| Shoe Size | Unavailable |
| Hair Color | Light Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| League | MLB |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Julianna Zobrist |
| Children | Zion Benjamin Zobrist, Kruse Allegra Zobrist, Blaise Royal Zobrist |
| Profession | Professional Baseball Athlete |
| Position | Second-baseman, Outfielder |
| Former Teams | Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs |
| Net Worth | $51 million |
| Career Highlights & Awards | All-Star (2009, 2013, 2016)World Series Champion (2015, 2016) World Series MVP (2016) |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
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