Ben Zobrist could afford to walk away from baseball to deal with marital troubles, and the Cubs were willing to wait four months while he did. As much as anyone can have good things going on during such a stressful time, the veteran hitter did.
But as he talked publicly Sunday for the first time since taking a leave of absence from the team in early May, it was hard to shake the feeling that, had he been an unproven 23-year-old and not a wealthy 38-year-old, and had his employer not been so understanding, he still would have chosen family over career. And done it gladly.
What stood out during Sunday’s press gathering at Wrigley Field was one man’s devotional strength. Whatever Zobrist is focused on at any given moment gets his complete attention. So when his marriage looked like it was crumbling a month into the season, he shut down whatever might get in the way of seeing to his children’s welfare and trying to repair his relationship with his wife.
And just like that, baseball, which had been his life since he signed with the Astros in 2004, was cut out of the equation. A lot of athletes talk family. One athlete meant it in the most literal way.
“It was a very easy decision for me. Very easy,’’ he said. “Because I’m a 100 percent focus type of person. I knew that, at that moment, there was no way I could be here and be focused while I was here. So I didn’t want to give half effort while I was here and think about where my head and heart really were. So I knew that, for at least a period of time, I needed to fully put myself back in Nashville (Tenn.) at home with my family doing everything I could to keep my family together. That was my focus.
“That’s where my heart was at the time, and that’s where my heart remains. I’m here now because my heart feels like, while I’m here at the field, I can put 100 percent into it.’’
It’s good to be wanted, unless it involves the police. Very few people have been as wanted as Zobrist has been by the Cubs. It’s hard to recall a similar response to the one they gave him when he left in May: Take all the time you need.
The Cubs are in the business of winning baseball games. But Zobrist is special to teammates and staff. He’s a favorite of manager Joe Maddon, for whom he played in Tampa Bay, and he was the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player for the Cubs, the only person who will ever be able to say that. Also, he hit a career-high .305 last year, and the club could use some of that with a month left in the regular season, especially at the leadoff spot.
But, still, the Cubs didn’t have to give him four months off. In fact, some people believe they shouldn’t have, considering the possibility of a precedent being set or a distraction being put in place. But they did.
“I would have understood completely however they needed to move forward, even if it was (being waived) the next day,’’ Zobrist said. “Baseball has given me nothing but blessings and opportunities and things. … I’m fortunate they gave me the time that they gave me and still wanted me back.’’
He said his teammates were excited to see him Sunday. The last time most of them had laid eyes on him was in June, when he addressed the team and asked for patience.
“There’s a part of me that’s a little overwhelmed with how much it feels like they’ve wanted me back and wanted me here,’’ he said Sunday. “I don’t feel like I make that much of an impact in the clubhouse or with the guys, but they certainly have made me feel that way.’’
Zobrist is an open book. That book is the Bible, and it tells him that God can heal anything, even a broken marriage. He has been through physical rehab during his career. It sounds like he’d like to go through a marriage rehab with his wife, Julianna.
“Of course. Yes, that’s how I feel,’’ he said. “This career is an incredible career. I love this career, but that’s the reason why I took time off – to see what I could do there, to see what I could do taking care of my kids and making sure they were OK through this scenario. Yeah, that’s my hope and prayer.’’
He and his wife separately filed for divorce in May.
“All I can say is that nothing has gone any further … one way or the other,’’ he said. “There’s no legal action or anything like that happening right now. It’s just kind of a period of stability and patience I think is where we’re at.’’
He said his son and two daughters are ready for him to start playing baseball again.
“Of course. … Truth be told, they’re ready for us to get a dog at some point,’’ he said. “If I get them a dog, they’ll be happy.’’
