Actor Jim Caviezel takes Sveum's spot in Royals team photo
Actor Jim Caviezel throws out the first pitch before the Royals-Cubs game Wednesday.
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Actor Jim Caviezel has played Jesus and golfer Bobby Jones on the big screen. On Wednesday, he portrayed Kansas City Royals bench coach Dale Sveum.
Sveum had a medical appointment for his stiff neck and missed the photo shoot, so Caviezel stood in for him.
"That way we can Photoshop the head with Dale in there," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Emily Penning, executive assistant to the general manager, was the "director" of the staff shot.
"And Emily was going, 'Jesus, you need to move back a little bit. Jesus, we're glad you're here,'" Yost said. "(Caviezel replied), 'Yeah, you're really going to need me this year.'"
Caviezel, who also starred in the TV series "Person of Interest" and is best known for playing Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ," said it "was funny" to be in the Royals' photo.
"I think it's more humbling for me to pop into a picture and impersonate some guy," Caviezel said. "I enjoyed it, just getting into a team photo. How many times would you ever be on a MLB field?"
Caviezel is in camp at the invitation of friend Mike Sweeney, a former Royals player who is in the team's front office. The club had a private pre-screening of Caviezel's latest movie, "Paul, Apostle of Christ," which opens nationwide next week.
Caviezel took batting practice with Sweeney pitching. When the round ended, Caviezel was standing around.
"Jimmy, you've got to get the balls," Sweeney barked jokingly. "If you're going to hit, you've got to pick them up."
Caviezel began retrieving the balls that barely made it out of the hitting cage.
Caviezel used his phone to take pictures of himself, wearing a Royals No. 33 uniform.
"Look, Jesus is over there taking selfies," Yost said, laughing.
Starting pitcher Ian Kennedy got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third by allowing just one run against the Chicago Cubs on an Anthony Rizzo's sacrifice fly.
"Jesus was in our dugout, watching over us a little bit," Kennedy said.
