Ben Zobrist, the Chicago Cubs second baseman has been named the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player.
Chicago Cubs Ben Zobrist is making headlines not only for his talent in the sport of baseball, but for his committed Christian faith and family values.
On Wednesday night (Nov. 2), the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. In doing so, the Cubs made history by breaking a 108-year streak of failing to bring a World Series title home to Chicago.
Ben Zobrist, the Cubs second baseman who also plays other positions, was named the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player.
Zobrist is quick to give the glory to God for his success. He often speaks of his Christian faith and he and his wife, Julianna Zobrist, who also has a career in the spotlight as a Christian singer and who recently released a new album, seek to raise their three children with Christian values.
In a 2013 interview Zobrist stated, “We know that as a Christian athlete, people are watching, and so we want to be the best example we can be and show that we are different – that Christ has changed our lives. But at the same time, I want people to know that grace is for everyone. We all need grace. We all need Christ.”
Zobrist has had a vision for his baseball career since the beginning. Last year, when Zobrist was with the Kansas City Royals who would go on to win the 2015 World Series, the Kansas City Star released an article on how Zobrist came to be a baseball player.
At the beginning of his baseball career, Zobrist told his father, a Christian pastor, “I’m going to be a missionary in the big leagues.”
Zobrist’s father describes his son’s faith this way: “It’s not this blustery, dominating in-your-face kind of thing,” his father said. “It can be very gentle and quiet: the way you live your life, the way you treat your family, the way you treat other people …He lives his life and lets his actions speak.”
Zobrist and his wife Julianna work together as a team to juggle their careers and to raise their three children, Zion, 7, Kruse, 5, and Blaise, 11 months.
Julianna said she and Ben want their children to know that their parents worked hard to get where they are in their careers. She also said that they want their children to be a big part of their lives, even when they are working.
“Our kids are there to see Ben practice and they sit through my sound checks and watch me write and create. They see it all,” she shared with The Huffington Post.
She also shared that prayer is an integral part of their lives. Every day the family takes time out of their schedules to pray:
“We need that as much as our kids do. It’s a deliberate decision to expose them to the needs and concerns of others. Our lives can be extremely consuming due to our schedule— and this keeps our priorities straight,” she said.
This year, Ben and Julianna’s careers intersected as she sang “God Bless America” before Ben took the field in Game 4 of the World Series. Julianna could also be seen in the stands watching her husband play.
“I can’t even put it into words … what this team has battled through all year long,” Zobrist said after the Game 7 win, according to The Christian Examiner. “[B]elieving we’re the best team, but the ups and the downs and [then] having to fight through things. It’s an unbelievable team to be a part of. Every guy on this team roots for each other and takes care of each other and picks each other up.”
He added about his decisive game-winning double to left field: “I couldn’t have been more blessed to be in that situation.”