Ex-hothead Zambrano finds peace
Carlos Zambrano was known as a fiery pitcher for the Chicago Cubs during his career, which lasted from 2001-2012.
Zambrano, nicknamed “Big Z” by Dusty Baker, once punched his catcher Michael Barrett in the face. He was suspended after a start in Atlanta in 2011 by the Cubs, who later traded him to the Marlins.
The suspension, Zambrano told Chicago Tribune columnist Paul Sullivan, changed his life.
Zambrano, 36, is now a pastor in Florida.
“When I got suspended, people don’t know this, but I went to Miami and my mom said, ‘Hey, son, there’s a [religious] youth conference in Venezuela, do you want to come and stay?’ ” he told Sullivan.
“I was frustrated. I said, ‘I don’t want to do nothing, Mom. I want to just relax.’
“I was hiding because I didn’t want people to know I was there. The preacher started talking about baseball and told a story of a guy who is empty and said God would touch him today. There were 6,000 people there, but I knew he was [referring to] me, and I started crying and said ‘God, forgive me, I need a new life.’ ”
Sullivan then asked Zambrano whether he could call him “Reverend Z” now.
“Call me whatever you want,” he said. “I’ll tell you what, I feel peace, something money and fame couldn’t get [me]. When I was playing my career, I was so empty.”