Chicago Cubs: Ben Zobrist is really going to be missed

Chicago Cubs: Hard to find a more likable ballplayer than Ben Zobrist.

Having excellent players on the team is great to have for both the team and the fans. This is something that cannot be measured with metrics and in-depth analysis. Cubs players and front office personnel made it clear last year how much they value him as a person when he was away.

Need a reminder of how awesome Zobrist has been?

This guy sat outside his home after the World Series and signed autographs for hundreds of fans. He volunteered to sign for fans when he was rehabbing last year in the minors. He drove over 350 miles to get to an autograph event after his flight was canceled.

He went to Joe Maddon and put the team before him even to the point saying others deserved to play over him. One of the very best stories was at Cubs Convention a few years ago telling the security guard who said not pictures with Zobrist that they could take photos if they want and then praying with a woman who had Parkinson’s disease. These are just a few examples.

There is no real need to justify why one would miss this kind of person on their team. It is easy to imagine the players themselves will miss just having him around. It’s probably like seeing a close family or friend move away and not being able to see them on a regular basis anymore.

The Chicago Cubs and their fans were so lucky to have Ben Zobrist for those four seasons. 2016 does not end in a World Series win without him. He treated the fans so well and was a role model for them and his teammates. Just beyond his personality, he was a heck of a baseball player. The team is going to miss him.