Chicago Cubs' Ben Zobrist files for separation from wife

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Ben Zobrist, 37, filed for legal separation from his wife on Monday in Tennessee
His wife Christian pop singer Julianne Zobrist filed for divorce in Cook County, Illinois on Monday as well, citing irreconcilable differences
The two tied the knot in December 2005 and have been together for 14 years
Zobrist's filing contends his wife is 'guilty of inappropriate marital conduct which render further cohabitation impossible'
Last week he announced he was taking a leave of absence from the team
The baseball player - who was named the 2016 World Series MVP - is his final year of his four year $56million contract with the Cubs
Cubs say it's unclear when he'll return to the team

Published: 13:58 EDT, 15 May 2019 | Updated: 17:08 EDT, 16 May 2019

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Chicago Cubs star Ben Zobrist and his Christian pop singer wife of 14 years Julianna have each filed for divorce in separate states.

The 37-year-old 2016 World Series MVP filed a separation complaint on Monday in Williamson County, Tennessee, days after he announced he was taking a leave of absence from the team, alleging she's 'guilty of inappropriate marital conduct'.

According to the filing, he sought a 'marriage dissolution agreement and permanent parenting plan' or wanted a judge order them to be legally separated.

Also on Monday his 34-year-old wife Julianna Zobrist, who previously went by Julianna Gilmore, filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences in Cook County, Illinois.

The couple share a home in Williamson County. They have three kids together - a son and two daughters named Zion, Kruse, Blaise.

Chicago Cubs star Ben Zobrist filed for legal separation from his wife of 14 years Julianna, alleging she's 'guilty of inappropriate marital conduct' on Monday in Tennessee. The two pictured above in 2016

They share three children together. The two pictured above posing with their son Zion Benjamin Zobrist in 2009

Ben Zobrist's filing says: 'Husband is unsure if the marriage can be salvaged'. He has hired Nashville attorney Helen Rogers for the case.

The three-page filing says his wife 'has been guilty of inappropriate marital conduct which render further cohabitation impossible,' according to The Tennessean.

There was speculation of a split after Zobrist took time off from the team citing personal reasons.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday he doesn't know when Zobrist might feel ready to return.

'We're going to respect his privacy,' Maddon said before the Cubs' game at Cincinnati. 'He'll let us know.'

'I texted with him the other day, reminded him how much I care about him,' Maddon said to the Chicago Sun Times, 'and how much we miss him'.

Zobrist - who was named the 2016 World Series MVP - is his final year of his four year contract with the Cubs

Juliana has famously performed God Bless America at Wrigley Field before Game 4 of the 2016 World Series. Her single from her 2016 album Shatterproof hit the Billboard charts.

Zobrist pictured with his wife and two of his kids in 2015

Julianna has retained Chicago law firm Berger Schatz. The company represented billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin in his split with wife Anne Dias Griffin in 2014.

Juliana has famously performed God Bless America at Wrigley Field before Game 4 of the 2016 World Series.

Her single from her 2016 album Shatterproof hit the Billboard charts. She released a Christian self help book last year entitled Pull It Off: Removing Your Fears and Putting On Confidence.

Zobrist shared this picture of smiling with Julianna in October 2016 (left) and February 2017 (right)

Ben shared this doting post to his wife for her book release in 2018. He posts infrequently on Instagram and this was his last post of his wife

The Zobrist family pictured together in 2016 in a Christmas photo

Zobrist celebrated his 2016 World Series win by taking his family on a trip to Disney World

She has also recently deleted her Twitter and deleted pictures of the couple together from her Instagram page.

Zobrist, who is in the final season of his $56million four-year contract with Chicago, was the World Series MVP when the Cubs won the championship in 2016. He'll earn $12.5million this season with the Cubs, as per Forbes.

Ben and Julianna are both the children of pastors. They met when Julianna was 16 through her sister's husband.

They began to date in her college years at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee and tied the knot on December 17, 2005 in Iowa City, Iowa.