Keynote Speaker

Ben Zobrist

Ben is a former Major League Baseball player and two-time World Series champion (including the 2016 World Series MVP). As a player, he was renowned for his versatility, consistency, and leadership. Over his 14 year career, Ben played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs, earning three All-Star selections. Known for his ability to play multiple positions effectively, he brought a unique blend of skill and adaptability to the game.

During his playing career, Ben faced many challenges including physical injuries and mental health issues. After retiring from baseball, he decided to focus his time, energy and attention on learning more about the mental and emotional side of being human. This led him to launch Champion Forward, allowing him to live out his passion of positively impacting and serving the sports community.

As a mental and emotional health advocate, Ben is committed to sharing his story and empowering others to learn, grow and heal from mental and emotional health issues. His desire is to help teenage athletes, parents, and coaches experience the sports journey in a healthy, sustainable, and successful way.