On a sunny Father's Day at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, the grounds crews are preparing the field, and CBS is setting up its cameras as the swallows dart about the "friendly confines."

Early-arriving Cubs and San Diego Padres trot around the sidelines and toss balls gingerly to each other.

One of the later arrivals is blond, baby-faced Khalil Greene, starting shortstop for the Padres and runner-up for the 2005 National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Perhaps because his whole identity isn't wrapped up in being a ballplayer, he is less dependent on the clubhouse camaraderie than some of his teammates.

Khalil GreeneMr. Greene is a member of the Baha'i Faith, which, as he has stated in previous interviews, has helped him in his baseball career. An intriguing statement, considering that it is widely believed in professional sports, especially among the "old school," that "getting religion" hampers a player's career, makes him less hungry to achieve and takes away his killer instinct.

Mr. Greene might beg to differ. He notes that "work done in the spirit of service is considered worship in the Baha'i Faith, and therefore it is not a separate area of my life."

Like other members of the Baha'i Faith, he studies the Baha'i Scriptures, known simply as the Writings, and prays every morning and evening, even during a game. And not the "Please God, just this once, I'll never ask for another thing again" variety. Rather it's to keep balance and not get too excited when things are going well or downcast when they're not.

"Praying keeps me balanced and focused," he says, "especially at times when I'm not feeling quite right physically or mentally. It also keeps me strong in my identity in the face of pressure to live a certain lifestyle expected of a professional athlete. It reminds me who I am and what my real values are."

One of Mr. Greene's frustrations is that traveling a good part of the year gives him little chance to participate in Baha'i community life. Or to visit his parents in Greer, S.C., where the family moved when he entered college (and was voted top collegiate player in the country by four different organizations).

"The Faith is my personal relationship with God and with Baha'u'llah," he says. "Greer has a small Baha'i community, but they're very strong in the Faith, and it's very confirming for me."

Mr. Greene also has an automatic fan base wherever he plays. Baha'is, notably in Texas and Portland, buy up blocks of seats and wave banners whenever the Padres are in town.

"Then it feels like family," he says. "We played an interleague series with Seattle, and dozens of Baha'is came up from Portland to support me. I feel like I'm a part of a big network."

Mr. Greene grew up in Key West, Fla., where he went through a period of discomfort with his name. His parents, who were Baha'is, named him Khalil because of its meaning--"friend of God" in Arabic. His middle name, Thabit, means "steadfast."

He now considers his name a blessing because it gives him an instant opportunity to talk to people about the Baha'i Faith.

In his rookie year the media peppered Mr. Greene with questions about the Faith as part of a "getting to know you" process. They also asked about his high-protein, low-carb diet, his fondness for composing rap lyrics and his penchant for wearing outlandish outfits on airplanes.

They don't do that anymore, but Mr. Greene's quiet composure continues to tell them a lot about who he is.

Related items:

• May 14, 2008 - Major Leage Baseball - MLB.com story: Greene finds temple visit 'uplifing'