| Jordan Zimmermann | |||
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Zimmermann with the Washington Nationals
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Washington Nationals – No. 27
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| Starting pitcher | |||
| Born: May 23, 1986 Auburndale, Wisconsin |
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MLB debut
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| April 20, 2009 for the Washington Nationals | |||
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Career statistics
(through 2014 season) |
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| Win–loss record | 57–40 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.24 | ||
| Strikeouts | 739 | ||
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Teams
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Career highlights and awards
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Jordan M. Zimmermann (born May 23, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals. He was the Nationals' best prospect going into the 2009 MLB season, according to Baseball America.[1]
Contents
Life and career[edit]
Zimmermann was born in Auburndale, Wisconsin. He played all four years of high school on the varsity squad. He began his career as a catcher. He then moved to multiple positions due to his versatility. He was used as a starting pitcher as well as a closer in tight games. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where he was a walk on. Zimmermann was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2008, Zimmermann had a combined 10–3 record with a 2.89 earned run average at high-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, and in July was named to the Eastern League (AA) All-Star team. He finished the season leading the organization in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average, and was the MILB.com Nationals pitcher of the year.[2]
Washington Nationals (2009-present)[edit]
2009[edit]
In 2009, Zimmermann made the Nationals' roster as the fifth starter; however, the Nationals did not need him in the rotation until mid-April, so Zimmermann opened the season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.[3] Zimmermann's contract was purchased on April 20, 2009, and he made his major league debut that night, after a two-plus hour rain delay, against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with three strikeouts and a walk, earning the victory.[4]
In his second game against the New York Mets, Zimmermann won his second game in as many starts becoming the first Nationals/Expos pitcher to win his first two starts of his career since Randy Johnson did so in 1988.[5] Coincidentally, Zimmermann was the losing pitcher in Johnson's historic 300th win on June 4, 2009.[6]
He had elbow pain, and in July landed on the disabled list.[7] After attempted rehab, in August 2009 Zimmermann was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery, expecting to miss 18 months.[7] He finished his rookie season of 2009 going 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA in 16 starts.
2010[edit]
In 2010 he made quick progress. Over four minor league levels, he started 10 games in limited play, racking up just 39.2 innings, but compiling a solid record: 1.59 ERA, 27 hits allowed, 31 strikeouts, and just six walks.[8] On August 26 he was recalled to make his 2010 debut back in the big leagues, where Zimmermann got a no-decision in an eventual win by the Nationals over the Cardinals. On this same day, the Nationals learned that their other young pitching phenom, Stephen Strasburg, would need Tommy John surgery and would be out for 12–18 months. In Zimmermann's second return start, however, five days later, he pitched six shutout innings, allowing only one hit, no walks, and striking out nine, a personal best. He also became the first National to get through six innings facing only 18 batters.[9] Zimmermann finished the 2010 year 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 7 starts.
2011[edit]
On May 6, 2011, Zimmermann pitched an immaculate inning versus the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium.[10] He finished the 2011 year 8-11 with a 3.18 ERA.
2012[edit]
On May 28, 2012, Zimmermann hit his first career home run off of Miami Marlins pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Zimmermann became the third Nationals pitcher named NL Pitcher of the Month during the 2012 season when the selection was announced on August 2, 2012. During July he went 4–0 with a MLB-best 0.97 ERA. He gave up 27 hits in 37 innings and struck out 31 compared to 4 walks.[11] He finished the 2012 season 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA.
In Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series, Zimmermann made a relief appearance in the 7th inning, his first since 2008 at A-level Potomac. Entering a tie game, Zimmermann struck out the side.[12] The Nationals would eventually lose the series to the St. Louis Cardinals after Game 5.
2013[edit]
Zimmermann hurled his first career shutout on April 26, 2013, with a one-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. It was the second straight one-hitter by Nationals pitching in the series, marking the first occasion since 1917 that a Washington team achieved that streak, and the first time since 1900 that the Reds were victimized that way.[13]
In 2013, Zimmermann was named to his first All-Star Game, but chose not to play due to stiffness in his neck. He finished the season with a career high in wins, going 19-9, while also posting a 3.25 ERA over 32 starts.
2014[edit]
On September 28, 2014, the last day of the regular season, Zimmermann threw the first no-hitter in Washington Nationals history, a 1-0 win over the Miami Marlins and Henderson Alvarez, the pitcher who threw the final no-hitter of the 2013 season. Zimmermann faced only one over the minimum in the game; only a fifth inning walk to Justin Bour separated him from a perfect game. This was also the first time in MLB history that a no-hitter had been thrown on the final day in two consecutive seasons.[14] He finished the season with a 14-5 record and a 2.66 ERA.
Pitching style[edit]
Zimmermann is mainly a three-pitch pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball (94 MPH, tops out at 98), a slider which he describes as a "baby cutter"[15] (86 MPH), and a curveball (77 MPH). On rare occasions, he also features a circle change to left-handed hitters.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ Washington Nationals top 10 prospects
- ^ 2008 Nationals Year in Review
- ^ Nationals Send Zimmermann to AAA
- ^ Nats' Zimmermann goes 6 strong en route to win in MLB debut
- ^ Who's the 'mann? Nats run over Mets
- ^ Zimmermann a hard-luck loser to history
- ^ a b Boswell, Tom (August 10, 2009). "Zimmermann Will Miss 18 Months". Nationals Journal (The Washington Post). Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Carlson, Ted (August 26, 2010). "Daily Dose: Closer Confusion". Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Kilgore, Adam (September 1, 2010). "Jordan Zimmermann dazzles, but Washington Nationals lose to Florida Marlins, 1-0 in 10 innings". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- ^ "Zimmermann hits Marlins with immaculate inning". Sun-Sentinel. May 6, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
- ^ Casella, Paul (2 August 2012). "Zimmermann named NL's best pitcher of the month". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ Kilgore, Adam (October 11, 2012). "Jordan Zimmermann wants to pitch in relief again on Game 5 after dominant inning in Game 4". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ Wagner, James (April 26, 2013). "Jordan Zimmermann and Nationals one-hit Reds for second night in a row". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
- ^ Steinberg, Dan (September 28, 2014). "Audio: Jordan Zimmermann finishes off no-hitter". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ Laurila, David (June 13, 2012). "Q&A: Jordan Zimmermann & Gio Gonzalez". Fangraphs. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "PITCHf/x Player Card: Jordan Zimmermann". BrooksBaseball.net. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
| Preceded by Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles, Jonathan Papelbon |
No-hitter pitcher September 28, 2014 |
Succeeded by Most recent |
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