All-Star Ben Zobrist highlights big Iowa Cubs lineup

The Des Moines Register

There were plenty of familiar faces in the Iowa Cubs’ lineup Friday night. Seven players had spent time in Chicago this season. Five were on Chicago’s opening day roster. Four more were in the lineup for that first game. But most eyes were on just one player Friday night in Des Moines: Ben Zobrist.

The three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion was the highlight of an Iowa Cubs lineup full of heavy hitters. Zobrist, playing in his 11th rehab assignment game of a minor league tour, went 0-for-4 for the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park. Having rejoined the Cubs in Des Moines for his second stint with the team this season, he hit second and played second Friday night.

Utility man Ben Zobrist rejoined the Iowa Cubs on Friday night.

He flew out to left in his first at-bat, grounded out to short in his second, grounded out to third in his third and softly bounced out to the pitcher to finish the night. The results aren't what matter most, though — just being back on the field was the most important thing for the Cubs' World Series hero.

The 38-year-old Zobrist has been on the restricted list since May 8 after he was granted a leave of absence for personal reasons. Zobrist has slowly been working his way back to the big leagues this month though with rehab stints at Single-A (full-season) South Bend, Single-A (advanced) Myrtle Beach and Tennessee on Thursday.

Zobrist had also appeared in four games with Iowa during its trip to Memphis last week. Friday night marked his first game at Principal Park during the process. And he was surrounded by plenty of Cubs talent: The first five hitters in Iowa’s lineup were Albert Almora Jr., Zobrist, David Bote, Daniel Descalso and Mark Zagunis — all started the season in Chicago.

Previously on Zobrist's most recent stint in Des Moines:

But a flurry of roster moves by the Chicago Cubs lately have landed them all back in Des Moines. Almora was optioned to Iowa last week. Descalso has been on a rehab assignment. Bote and Zagunis were sent down to Iowa this week.

“It’s always good when you can put four or five big leaguers in there (the lineup),” Iowa manager Marty Pevey said Friday. “These guys have been great, too. They’re excellent at what they do. They’re prepared and they make my job really easy.”

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Robel Garcia, who was hitting sixth, has also spent time in the majors. So has catcher Taylor Davis, who was hitting ninth. Even starting pitcher Adbert Alzolay had a brief stint in Chicago this season. But most of the attention Friday was on Zobrist, one of the heroes of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series after driving in the first of two go-ahead runs for the Cubs in the 10th inning.

Zobrist, who has declined to meet with the media during his different stints around the minors, did spend about 10 minutes signing autographs, posing for pictures and chatting with fans before Friday's game. It won't be the only chance fans get to see him, either. Zobrist is expected to play in Saturday's game against the Nashville Sounds.