Former Major League Baseball star Ben Zobrist is widely remembered for his versatility on the field and his role in the Chicago Cubs’ historic 2016 World Series championship. Away from baseball, however, his personal life became the subject of extensive attention following the breakdown of his marriage to Christian singer and author Julianna Zobrist.
The couple married in 2005 and built a family together while Ben established himself as one of baseball’s most valuable utility players. Their relationship eventually ended in a complicated divorce that unfolded over several years and involved substantial legal and financial disputes.
Who Is Julianna Zobrist?
Julianna Zobrist is a contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and author. She was born Julianna Joy Gilmore and has also used the name Julianna Glasse professionally.
Her music career developed alongside Ben’s rise through professional baseball. She released Christian music and became known for combining faith-based themes with contemporary pop and worship influences.
During their marriage, Julianna and Ben were also recognized for their public Christian faith. They appeared together at events and collaborated on a book about marriage, family and faith.
Their Marriage
Ben and Julianna married in 2005, before Ben had become an established MLB star.
Their marriage continued through several major stages of Ben’s career, including his years with the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs.
As Ben’s reputation grew, the couple became familiar figures within Christian sports circles. Julianna supported his baseball career while developing her own identity as a recording artist.
Their Children
Ben and Julianna have three children together.
Their eldest is a son named Zion Benjamin Zobrist. They also have two daughters.
The children were born during Ben’s professional baseball career and spent much of their early lives in the public eye because of their father’s status as a major-league player.
Following the divorce, both parents continued to have responsibilities involving their children, although details of their family arrangements have generally remained more private.
The 2019 Split
The marriage began to unravel publicly in May 2019.
Ben and Julianna filed for divorce separately in Tennessee, with the filings occurring around the same time. The split came as an enormous personal shock for Ben and coincided with a difficult period in his professional life.
At the time, Zobrist was a member of the Chicago Cubs. He subsequently stepped away from baseball for an extended period while dealing with the family crisis.
The decision meant missing much of the 2019 season and ultimately became an important turning point in his playing career.
The Legal Battle
The divorce became more complicated when allegations concerning the couple’s former pastor emerged in court proceedings.
Ben filed a lawsuit against Byron Yawn, a former Nashville-area pastor who had served as a counselor to the couple. Zobrist alleged that Yawn had abused a position of trust and had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Julianna.
The allegations became part of a broader legal dispute surrounding the collapse of the marriage.
Court records and subsequent reporting provided details about the relationship allegations. Julianna acknowledged that she had engaged in a physical relationship with Yawn during the marriage.
Because the claims involved private individuals and contentious litigation, reports about the case have varied in their descriptions of events. The court proceedings, rather than speculation surrounding the couple, provide the most reliable basis for understanding what was formally alleged and acknowledged.
Ben’s Baseball Hiatus
The divorce crisis had a direct impact on Ben’s career.
After helping the Cubs win the World Series in 2016 and earning World Series MVP honors, Zobrist had remained an important veteran presence in Chicago.
In 2019, however, he took an extended leave from the team. He ultimately returned later that season but played only part of the year.
The prolonged absence contributed to his decision to step away from professional baseball. He never returned to MLB as a player after the 2019 season.
The Financial Dispute
The divorce also involved substantial financial issues.
Ben and Julianna had accumulated significant assets during their marriage, including income generated during his MLB career and Julianna’s professional work.
The case eventually resulted in an extensive divorce judgment addressing property, finances and other matters.
A Tennessee judge ultimately finalized the divorce proceedings in a lengthy ruling that dealt with the couple’s marital estate and related financial questions.
The legal process attracted national attention largely because of Zobrist’s baseball fame and the circumstances surrounding the breakdown of the marriage.
Life After Divorce
Julianna continued her work in music and writing after the divorce.
Her professional identity has evolved over time, and she has continued to be associated with Christian music and faith-based creative work.
Ben, meanwhile, has remained connected to baseball through various post-playing activities. His legacy remains closely tied to his unusual ability to play virtually every position on the diamond and to his contributions to the Cubs’ 2016 championship.
The former couple have largely kept their post-divorce lives away from the level of publicity that surrounded their legal battle.
Ben’s Legacy
For baseball fans, Zobrist’s name is still strongly connected to the Cubs’ championship breakthrough.
He played a crucial role during the 2016 postseason and delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the decisive Game 7 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians. His performance earned him the World Series MVP award.
His career also included two World Series championships, with the first coming as a member of the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
That baseball legacy exists separately from the difficult period surrounding his marriage and divorce.
Ben Zobrist’s ex-wife is Julianna Zobrist, the Christian singer and author formerly known as Julianna Gilmore and also associated with the name Julianna Glasse.
The couple married in 2005 and had three children before filing for divorce in 2019. Their separation became unusually public because of the legal disputes that followed, including allegations involving their former pastor and a substantial financial settlement.
The marital crisis also had a profound effect on Zobrist’s baseball career. He stepped away from the Chicago Cubs during the 2019 season and never returned to MLB as a player.
Today, both have moved forward with their respective lives and careers. While their divorce remains one of the most closely scrutinized aspects of Zobrist’s personal story, his lasting public legacy is also defined by his extraordinary baseball versatility and his central role in the Chicago Cubs’ long-awaited 2016 World Series victory.
