Ex-MLB All-Star Ben Zobrist files lawsuit against former minister in cheating scandal

Ben Zobrist's MLB retirement got off to a rocky start.

According to Phil Thompson of the Chicago Tribune, the former All-Star utility player filed lawsuit in Nashville Circuit Court on May 6 that alleges his former minister, Byron Yawn, "of having a sexual relationship with his wife Julianna and defrauding Zobrist’s charity foundation."

More from Thompson's report:

"The lawsuit against Byron Yawn, CEO of the Nashville-area counseling firm Forrest Crain and Co., seeks $6 million in punitive and compensatory damages through a jury trial.

[...]  

"While acting as the Zobrists’ marital counselor and executive director of Ben Zobrist’s charity, 'usurped the ministerial-counselor role, violated and betrayed the confidence entrusted to him by the plaintiff, breached his fiduciary duty owed to the plaintiff and deceitfully used his access as counselor to engage in an inappropriate sexual relationship with the plaintiff’s wife.'"

Yawn, who served at Nashville's Community Bible Church in a senior pastor role for "about 20 years," was predictably defended by his attorney, Christopher Bellamy.

"At the end of the day, a woman has the right to choose who she wants to be with," Bellamy told Thompson. "We’re in the middle of litigation, so I can't really comment further at this point, but that's what it boils down to."

Thompson additionally relayed that Yawn was Ben and Julianna's pre-marital counselor in 2005 and then counseled Ben individually for anxiety and depression in 2007, '16 and '17.

Zobrist began his MLB playing career with the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006. He stayed with the Rays—he was named an All-Star twice while in Tampa (2009, '13)—until a January 2015 trade to the Oakland Athletics. His 2015 campaign was split between the A's and Kansas City Royals, which he joined via trade in late July.

The 40-year-old was a pivotal member of the Royals' 2015 World Series-winning squad before signing with the Chicago Cubs in December 2015. 

The Illinois native played an even bigger role in the Cubs breaking their 108-year championship drought—the longest in major American sports—as he was named the 2016 World Series MVP.

Zobrist's marital woes began interfering with his professional career in early 2019. He was granted an "excused absence" from spring training, and he was then away from the Cubs from May 7 until Sept. 3 as his marriage fell apart. He confirmed his retirement in March 2020.

Ben and Julianna each filed for divorce in May 2019.

Per Thompson, the lawsuit states that Zobrist "forfeited months of the 2019 season," which cost him "approximately $8 million in income."

The Zobrists have three children: daughters Kruse and Blaise and son Zion.