Former Legend Zobrist Acquired by Royals
July 28, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release
Former Lexington Legend Ben Zobrist
(Lexington Legends, Credit: Mary Lay)
Ben Zobrist, a 10-year major league veteran who played for the Lexington Legends in 2005, has been acquired by the Legends' parent club, the Kansas City Royals, in a trade with the Oakland A's.
Zobrist goes to Kansas City in exchange for right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks and left-hander Sean Manaea (pronounced Mah-nye-uh).
Zobrist, 34, is hitting .268 with 20 doubles, two triples, six homers and 39 runs scored this season. He's batting .325 (39-for-122) over his last 36 games. He's tied for 10th in the American League this season with 15 go-ahead RBI, while four of his six home runs have given his team the lead. A switch-hitting utility player, Zobrist has started 33 games at second base (33) in left field (24) and right field (two) for the A's this season.
Zobrist spent the first nine seasons of his career in Tampa Bay before being traded to Oakland in January of this year. He's a career .264 hitter with 249 doubles, 34 triples, 120 homers and 544 RBI in 1,131 career games. He left Tampa Bay as the franchise's all-time leader in doubles and walks (542). He's a two-time All-Star (2009, 2013) and has played every position except for pitcher and catcher in his Major League career. He played in four different postseasons with the Rays (2008, 2010-11, 2013), helping the franchise reach its first World Series in 2008.
For Lexington in 2005, Zobrist batted .304 with two home runs and 32 runs batted in. Current San Francisco Giants star Hunter Pence was a teammate of Zobrist with the Legends, who were part of the Houston Astros' organization at the time.
Images from this story
 Former Lexington Legend Ben Zobrist (Mary Lay) |
 Former Lexington Legend Ben Zobrist (Mary Lay) |
 Former Lexington Legend Ben Zobrist (Mary Lay) |
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