Ex-Chicago Cubs star Ben Zobrist has accused his wife of having an affair with their Tennessee pastor who, at one point, had given the couple marriage counseling, according to a lawsuit.

The 40-year-old, who has since retired from Major League Baseball, alleged in a lawsuit filed last month that his wife Julianna had a year-long affair with Bryon Yawn back in 2019 while he was their pastor in Nashville.

Zobrist first filed for separation from his Christian singer wife back in May 2019 after alleging that Julianna had engaged in 'inappropriate marital conduct' while their marriage was breaking down.

The 2016 World Series MVP took leave from the Cubs at the time to deal with his marital issues. He and Julianna both filed for divorce that month and the matter is still ongoing.

In this latest lawsuit obtained by the Journal Star, Zobrist alleges that he initially believed it was only an emotional relationship but discovered in June 2020 that his wife had actually been having an affair with Yawn.

Zobrist is now suing Yawn for $6 million over the income he lost while taking leave from the Cubs.

Neither the Zobrists or Yawn have commented publicly about the latest lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that the Zobrists, who married in 2005 and have three children, met Yawn more than 16 years ago through the Community Bible Church where he was a pastor.

The pastor gave the Zobrists pre and post-marital counseling, the lawsuit says. He also gave Zobrist advice regarding anxiety and depression.

Yawn and Julianna started speaking frequently in 2018 and allegedly started having the affair in the spring of 2019. They are alleged to have used pre-paid cell phones to keep it a secret.

At the time, Zobrist was confiding in Yawn that his marriage was crumbling.

The baseball star told his pastor that Julianna had consulted a divorce lawyer, according to the lawsuit.

In a text message to Yawn about his marriage breakdown, Zobrist wrote: 'She used the words emotional, verbal and spiritual abuse. I was shocked. Can't be 2,000 miles away from her and kids while she's thinking that about me. I have owned every bit of my sin, but I will not own the abuse angle.'

Yawn replied: 'I'm sure it's like getting knocked off your feet and into your head. But I can't imagine what it feels like in this moment. Your (sic) a husband and a father first. That's who you are.'

He also urged Zobrist to give his wife space, according to the suit.

During this time, the lawsuit alleges that Yawn also got a leadership position at Patriot Forward, which is a non-profit that Zobrist had founded to help athletes with mental health.

Yawn was fired in March 2019 but fraudulently continued to receive a $3,500 a month salary until that May, the lawsuit claims.

It is not clear how he was able to receive the salary even after being terminated.

Yawn's relationship with Julianna allegedly came to light after the pastor's wife, Robin Yawn, discovered the pre-paid phones the pair had been using in May 2019.

She told Zobrist that she believed her husband was having an emotional relationship with Julianna.

Zobrist took leave from the Cubs and filed for divorce, according to the lawsuit.

The baseball star only discovered in June 2020 - as a result of court documents filed during the divorce proceedings - that his wife had allegedly had a sexual relationship with Yawn.

Zobrist rejoined the Cubs in September 2019 but retired at the end of the season.

Yawn is no longer associated with the church and is now CEO of the Nashville business-consulting firm Forrest Crain & Co.