A Nat Always:

Farewell to the Z-Man

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

2-17-2022

       This past Tuesday it became official that a D.C. Sports Icon was calling it a career. Third basemen/First basemen Ryan Zimmerman announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after 16 seasons, all spent in a Nationals uniform. The Unheralded Sports View will take look back at the career of the Nationals legend. Highlighting his achievements that best celebrate the tremendous career the corner infielder had in D.C.

            Zimmerman’s amateur career set the tone for what went on to be a very productive big-league career. He played on AAU and “showcase teams” with a plethora of his future MLB peers including David Wright, B.J. and Justin Upton, along with Mark Reynolds. Despite a productive high school career, he only garnered interest from two D-1 programs being James Madison and UNC Wilmington until late in his senior year. He would end up getting a scholarship and attending the University of Virginia. While at UVA all Zimmerman did during his 3-year career was put his fingerprints all over the programs record books. He set a school record for hits in a single season with 90 in 2004, then broke his own record the following season with 92 hits in 2005. Zimmerman by the end of his college career, the 3-year starter at 3rd base started in all 174 games he played. He finished 5th in the program’s history in doubles with 47, 6th in hits with 250, and 7th in rbi’s with 140. He even finished his career strong hitting .393 with just 14 strikeouts in his final college season. He was named a 2004 1st team All-ACC team member, a 2005 All-ACC selection, and a 2005 All-American.

            He left his mark as a young player on International scene during his college career as well. He started at 3rd base for the 2004 US Baseball National Team in the FISU II World University Baseball Championship. He helped lead this team to a gold medal winning the team triple crown, tournament MVP, and the USA Baseball Richard W. “Dick” Case Player of the Year Award in the process. He also set a national team record for batting average with .468, while leading the team in nearly every offensive category. Zimmerman truly made his mark on the amateur and international circuit, which was a great precursor to a strong MLB career.

            The now 37-year-old Zimmerman was the first draft pick of Washington Nationals franchise’s history at 4th overall in 2005 MLB Draft. He made his big-league debut on September 1st, 2005 and officially played his last game October 3rd, 2021. During his tremendous 16-year career, all spent in a Nationals uniform Zimmerman saw every high and low in the franchises’ history. He has seen the franchise lose 100+ games back to back seasons and win its first ever World Series. Zimmerman finishes his career the Nats all-time leader in hits, home runs, doubles, rbi’s, extra base hits, runs scored, and games played. His best season was when he hit .292 with 33 home runs, 106 rbi’s, and a .88OPS in 2009. He was an All-Star in 2009 and 2017, won a Gold Glove in 2009 as a third basemen, and won back to back Silver Slugger awards in 2009 and 2010. He also finished in the top 25 in MVP voting 4 different times, and it was only right he hit the first World Series home run by a Nationals player in the club’s history in 2019. His career numbers ended up as follows:

-Career Statistics: .277 batting average, 1,846 hits, 417 doubles, 22 triples, 284 home runs, 1,061 rbi’s, 963 runs, with a .816 OPS

-Postseason Statistics: .274 batting average, 5 home runs, 32 hits, 17 rbi’s

Zimmerman did something few athletes have done in their career and that is play with one team for their entire career. Injuries unfortunately were the one major drawback of his career, yet and still he managed to remain productive right up until his final season. He was the face of the franchise through and through and represented the organization and sport well on and off the field. From hitting a bevy of walk-off homers to starting the ziMS Foundation which works to treat and cure multiple sclerosis he has done a lot as a Nat. That is why we give Mr. National one last send off and hope his example will fuel the next crop of Nationals players to meet his standard.