Khalil Greene
Encyclopedia
Khalil Thabit Greene is a Major League Baseball
shortstop
who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed.
for the Clemson Tigers
in his freshman season, all but one of them starts. His first collegiate home run
was an inside-the-park home run
which came at the UNLV/Coors Desert Classic on February 27. In his freshman year, Greene had 98 hits
, setting the record for Clemson freshmen. He led the team in hits, multi-hit games (31), at-bats (274), and hit-by-pitches
(11). His batting average
for the season was .358. Greene was a unanimous selection to the All-Regional Team in the postseason.
In his sophomore season, Greene started every one of the team's 69 games at third base. He led the team in batting average with runners in scoring position
at .444. He was an All-ACC
second team selection. (The first team selection was Georgia Tech
's Mark Teixeira
.) He was selected to the All-ACC Tournament team.
Greene again started every game for the Clemson Tigers in his junior season, but this time he and erstwhile shortstop Jeff Baker switched positions. He set the school record in season fielding percentage
at that position (.965), while also setting every hit-by-pitch record for the school (in an inning, 2; in a game, 3; in a season, 21; in a career, 47). He also led the team in doubles
with 18. He was named the ACC Player of the Week during the last week of the season. Peter Gammons
made a prediction in his pre-draft column on ESPN
.com: "You won't find Clemson shortstop/third baseman Khalil Greene or Wake Forest
center fielder
Cory Sullivan
on any top-100 list, but check back in five years from now and see if they aren't remarkably like Jeff Cirillo
and Steve Finley
. Greene and Sullivan are players." Greene was drafted with the second pick of the fourteenth round (409th overall) by the Chicago Cubs
, but did not sign.
Greene's senior season was his most impressive. Collegiate Baseball named him National Player of the Year. The publication, along with Baseball America
, selected him as a member of their All-America first teams. Baseball America
also chose Greene for their National Midseason Player of the Year. He was the ACC's Player of the Year and was named to the All-ACC first team. Greene was named winner of the Dick Howser Trophy
, the Rotary Smith Award
, and the Golden Spikes Award
at the end of the season. He hit an amazing .480 with 26 home runs and 30 doubles with a .557 on-base percentage and .888 slugging percentage (for an OPS of 1.445). He broke his own fielding record with a .967 mark. In only one of the team's 67 games did he not reach base via walk
or hit. His last at-bat in Clemson's Doug Kingsmore Stadium was, fittingly, a home run.
After Greene finished the season, having graduated with a bachelor's degree
in sociology
, he held school single-season records for total bases
, extra-base hits
, home runs, RBI
, consecutive multi-hit games, and consecutive games with a home run. He holds career school records in total bases and RBI. He holds the ACC single season record for batting average and the ACC career records for doubles and hits. Greene also holds the NCAA
record for doubles in a career. On June 22, 2002, Greene received a special resolution from the South Carolina
General Assembly. He'd started 269 consecutive games. Greene was taken by the San Diego Padres with the thirteenth pick of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
.
After finishing his college career and being drafted by the Padres, Khalil Greene reported to the Single-A Eugene Emeralds
where he played only ten games. He batted .270 with no home runs and six RBI. He was then called up to the Lake Elsinore Storm
of the California League
where he finished the season. In 46 games, he hit nine home runs with 32 RBI while batting .317.
In , Greene started the season with the Double-A Mobile BayBears
. In 59 games, he had a batting average of .275. He was then called up to the Triple-A Portland Beavers
. In 76 games, Greene batted .288 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI. He then saw his first major league action on September 3, , where he came into the game as a pinch-hitter for Brian Lawrence
in the seventh inning and flied out against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. He got his first start two days later against the Houston Astros
, but went 0-for-4. His first hit came the next day; it was a single
sharply hit up the middle against Ron Villone
. His first home run led off the eighth inning of the September 16 game against Jerome Williams
of the San Francisco Giants
. He finished the year with an average of .215 with two home runs and six RBI in twenty games.
His first full season was in . He played 139 games for the Padres, going 132-for-484 (.273) with 15 home runs and 65 RBI. He was seventh in the league in sacrifice flies
with seven. His salary for the season was $300,500. Greene placed second in the MLB Rookie of the Year Award
voting in the National League
(to his former minor league roommate Jason Bay
), despite having to play in fifteen of the last seventeen games of the season with a broken hand.
In , Greene played in 121 games going 109 for 436 (.250) with 15 home runs and 70 RBI. He helped the Padres win their fourth division title, their first since .
In , Greene appeared in 121 games, and had 101 hits in 412 at-bats (.245) with 15 home runs and 55 RBI, helping the Padres win their second consecutive National League West
title.
In , Greene hit 155 for 611 for a (.254) average over 153 games. He also set a Padres record for home runs by a shortstop with 27, and accrued 97 RBI.
Despite playing in less than five full seasons, Greene is the Padres' career leader in home runs at the shortstop position, with 84 through the season.
On February 4, 2008, the Padres signed Greene to a two-year, $11 million extension.
In 2008, Greene got off to a terrible start offensively, not hitting a single home run until May 2. As of the end of July he was hitting only .213 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI and 5 stolen base
s. On July 30, 2008, Greene broke his hand while hitting a storage box after striking out
for the 100th time in 2008 and his batting average dropped to .213. On July 31, it was announced Greene would miss the rest of the season.
) due to a slow start for the Cardinals, hitting .197 with only three home runs at the time. He returned to the Cards lineup on June 19 at the Kansas City Royals
. Playing third base for the first time since college, he went 2-for-2 with a double, a solo home run and a walk, eventually being substituted after fouling a ball off his foot. Following a 1 for 17 stretch over five games, Greene was placed back on the disabled list with social anxiety disorder on June 29.
; he made $6.5 million in .
On March 23, 2009 it was announced that relief pitcher Luke Gregerson
was the player to be named in the trade.
. He announced on February 22, 2010 that, suffering another episode of social anxiety disorder
, he would not be reporting to Rangers spring training. On February 25, the Rangers voided Greene's contract.
, and says his faith has helped his athletic performance mentally.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed.
High school and college
Khalil Greene played high school baseball at Key West High school. Greene played all 69 games at third baseThird Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
for the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
in his freshman season, all but one of them starts. His first collegiate home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
was an inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
which came at the UNLV/Coors Desert Classic on February 27. In his freshman year, Greene had 98 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, setting the record for Clemson freshmen. He led the team in hits, multi-hit games (31), at-bats (274), and hit-by-pitches
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
(11). His batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
for the season was .358. Greene was a unanimous selection to the All-Regional Team in the postseason.
In his sophomore season, Greene started every one of the team's 69 games at third base. He led the team in batting average with runners in scoring position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position
Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position is a baseball statistic derived by dividing a players hits with runners in scoring positions by his at bats with runners in scoring position...
at .444. He was an All-ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
second team selection. (The first team selection was Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
's Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira
Mark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
.) He was selected to the All-ACC Tournament team.
Greene again started every game for the Clemson Tigers in his junior season, but this time he and erstwhile shortstop Jeff Baker switched positions. He set the school record in season fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
at that position (.965), while also setting every hit-by-pitch record for the school (in an inning, 2; in a game, 3; in a season, 21; in a career, 47). He also led the team in doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
with 18. He was named the ACC Player of the Week during the last week of the season. Peter Gammons
Peter Gammons
Peter Gammons is an American sportswriter, media personality, and a recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing, given by the BBWAA.-Education:...
made a prediction in his pre-draft column on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.com: "You won't find Clemson shortstop/third baseman Khalil Greene or Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Cory Sullivan
Cory Sullivan
Cory Sullivan is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Colorado Rockies, New York Mets, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies organizations.-Personal life:...
on any top-100 list, but check back in five years from now and see if they aren't remarkably like Jeff Cirillo
Jeff Cirillo
Jeffrey Howard Cirillo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. In a 14-season career, Cirillo was a .296 hitter with 112 home runs and 727 RBI in 1617 games. He was named an All-Star in and . He is the Brewers all-time career leader in batting average at .306...
and Steve Finley
Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...
. Greene and Sullivan are players." Greene was drafted with the second pick of the fourteenth round (409th overall) by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, but did not sign.
Greene's senior season was his most impressive. Collegiate Baseball named him National Player of the Year. The publication, along with Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, selected him as a member of their All-America first teams. Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
also chose Greene for their National Midseason Player of the Year. He was the ACC's Player of the Year and was named to the All-ACC first team. Greene was named winner of the Dick Howser Trophy
Dick Howser Trophy
The Dick Howser Trophy, considered to be the Heisman Trophy of college baseball, is an award presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year, presented by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ....
, the Rotary Smith Award
Rotary Smith Award
The Rotary Smith Award was created in 1988 to honor the most outstanding college baseball player of the year. The award was founded by the Greater Houston Sports Association. In 1996, the Rotary Club of Houston joined the award committee...
, and the Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
at the end of the season. He hit an amazing .480 with 26 home runs and 30 doubles with a .557 on-base percentage and .888 slugging percentage (for an OPS of 1.445). He broke his own fielding record with a .967 mark. In only one of the team's 67 games did he not reach base via walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
or hit. His last at-bat in Clemson's Doug Kingsmore Stadium was, fittingly, a home run.
After Greene finished the season, having graduated with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, he held school single-season records for total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
, extra-base hits
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
, home runs, RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, consecutive multi-hit games, and consecutive games with a home run. He holds career school records in total bases and RBI. He holds the ACC single season record for batting average and the ACC career records for doubles and hits. Greene also holds the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
record for doubles in a career. On June 22, 2002, Greene received a special resolution from the South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
General Assembly. He'd started 269 consecutive games. Greene was taken by the San Diego Padres with the thirteenth pick of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
.
San Diego Padres
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
where he played only ten games. He batted .270 with no home runs and six RBI. He was then called up to the Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
where he finished the season. In 46 games, he hit nine home runs with 32 RBI while batting .317.
In , Greene started the season with the Double-A Mobile BayBears
Mobile BayBears
The Mobile BayBears are a minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major league club. The BayBears play in Hank Aaron Stadium, named after baseball's former all-time home...
. In 59 games, he had a batting average of .275. He was then called up to the Triple-A Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
. In 76 games, Greene batted .288 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI. He then saw his first major league action on September 3, , where he came into the game as a pinch-hitter for Brian Lawrence
Brian Lawrence
Brian Michael Lawrence is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.-High school:Lawrence attended Carthage High School in Carthage, Texas...
in the seventh inning and flied out against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. He got his first start two days later against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, but went 0-for-4. His first hit came the next day; it was a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
sharply hit up the middle against Ron Villone
Ron Villone
Ronald Thomas Villone Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently with the Somerset Patriots. He has not been on the same team for more than two years in his major league career and due to his many baseball travels, some of his teammates have affectionately referred...
. His first home run led off the eighth inning of the September 16 game against Jerome Williams
Jerome Williams (baseball)
Jerome Lee Williams is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball...
of the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He finished the year with an average of .215 with two home runs and six RBI in twenty games.
His first full season was in . He played 139 games for the Padres, going 132-for-484 (.273) with 15 home runs and 65 RBI. He was seventh in the league in sacrifice flies
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
with seven. His salary for the season was $300,500. Greene placed second in the MLB Rookie of the Year Award
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
voting in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
(to his former minor league roommate Jason Bay
Jason Bay
Jason Raymond Bay is a Canadian professional baseball player. An outfielder, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
), despite having to play in fifteen of the last seventeen games of the season with a broken hand.
In , Greene played in 121 games going 109 for 436 (.250) with 15 home runs and 70 RBI. He helped the Padres win their fourth division title, their first since .
In , Greene appeared in 121 games, and had 101 hits in 412 at-bats (.245) with 15 home runs and 55 RBI, helping the Padres win their second consecutive National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
title.
In , Greene hit 155 for 611 for a (.254) average over 153 games. He also set a Padres record for home runs by a shortstop with 27, and accrued 97 RBI.
Despite playing in less than five full seasons, Greene is the Padres' career leader in home runs at the shortstop position, with 84 through the season.
On February 4, 2008, the Padres signed Greene to a two-year, $11 million extension.
In 2008, Greene got off to a terrible start offensively, not hitting a single home run until May 2. As of the end of July he was hitting only .213 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI and 5 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. On July 30, 2008, Greene broke his hand while hitting a storage box after striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
for the 100th time in 2008 and his batting average dropped to .213. On July 31, it was announced Greene would miss the rest of the season.
Struggle with social anxiety disorder
Greene took several weeks off during May and June 2009, after it was revealed that he was possibly injuring himself in mental anguish (revealed to be social anxiety disorderSocial anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder , also known as social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear in social situations causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life...
) due to a slow start for the Cardinals, hitting .197 with only three home runs at the time. He returned to the Cards lineup on June 19 at the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Playing third base for the first time since college, he went 2-for-2 with a double, a solo home run and a walk, eventually being substituted after fouling a ball off his foot. Following a 1 for 17 stretch over five games, Greene was placed back on the disabled list with social anxiety disorder on June 29.
St. Louis Cardinals
On December 4, 2008, Greene was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mark Worrell and a player to be named laterPlayer to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
; he made $6.5 million in .
On March 23, 2009 it was announced that relief pitcher Luke Gregerson
Luke Gregerson
Lucas John "Luke" Gregerson is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres. He owns the major league record for holds in a season.-St. Louis Cardinals:...
was the player to be named in the trade.
Texas Rangers
Greene filed for free agency for the 2010 season, and signed with the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He announced on February 22, 2010 that, suffering another episode of social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder , also known as social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear in social situations causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life...
, he would not be reporting to Rangers spring training. On February 25, the Rangers voided Greene's contract.
Other interests
Greene writes hip-hop lyrics in his spare time and adds them to instrumental music. He is an adherent of the Bahá'í FaithBahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, and says his faith has helped his athletic performance mentally.