47 Facts About Ryan Zimmerman

1.

Ryan Zimmerman graduated from Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and played college baseball at the University of Virginia.

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2.

Ryan Zimmerman is nicknamed "Mr National" as he had been a member of the team from the Nationals' 2005 inaugural season through 2021; additionally, he was the team's first draft pick after the franchise's relocation from Montreal.

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3.

Ryan Zimmerman was drafted in the first round as the fourth overall pick by the Nationals in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.

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4.

Ryan Zimmerman is well known for his clutch hitting and walk-off hits.

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5.

Ryan Zimmerman was primarily a third baseman before transitioning to first base in 2015.

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6.

Ryan Zimmerman finished with 19 RBIs, 12 runs scored, 60 total bases and 16 walks.

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7.

Ryan Zimmerman was later named to the North CPL All-Star team, where he went 1-for-2.

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8.

Three-year starting third baseman for the Virginia Cavaliers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Ryan Zimmerman started in all 174 games he appeared in, and his collegiate career statistics include 250 hits, 140 RBIs, 128 runs, 47 doubles, seven triples, and nine home runs.

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9.

Ryan Zimmerman established the school record of hits in a season with 90 in 2004, breaking his own record with 92 in 2005.

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10.

Ryan Zimmerman coupled his high batting average with striking out just 14 times in the full season.

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11.

Ryan Zimmerman was a 2004 First Team All-ACC selection, 2004 VaSID All-State Team selection, and named to the 2004 Charlottesville NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team.

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12.

Ryan Zimmerman started at third base for the 2004 USA Baseball National Team that won the gold medal in the FISU II World University Baseball Championship.

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13.

Ryan Zimmerman won the USA Baseball Richard W "Dick" Case Player of the Year Award in 2004.

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14.

Ryan Zimmerman was drafted in the first round as the fourth overall pick by the Washington Nationals in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.

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15.

Ryan Zimmerman was called up to the majors when rosters expanded in September 2005.

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16.

Ryan Zimmerman first played shortstop for two games, taking over for an injured Cristian Guzman.

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17.

Ryan Zimmerman shared third base duties with Vinny Castilla, taking over the position on a more permanent basis between the time the Nationals were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and the end of the season.

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18.

Ryan Zimmerman remained with the Major League club to start the 2006 campaign, taking over third base duties from Castilla, who was traded to the San Diego Padres.

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19.

The usually stoic Ryan Zimmerman gleefully tossed his batting helmet in the air while rounding third and leaped onto home plate as his teammates crowded around him.

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20.

Ryan Zimmerman later took a curtain call and tossed his batting gloves into the stands.

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21.

Ryan Zimmerman led all Major Leaguers with 10 or more bunts in bunt hit percentage, at 83.

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22.

Ryan Zimmerman hit home runs on Father's Day in 2006 and 2007, Independence Day in 2006 and 2007, and Mother's Day in 2007.

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23.

In 2007, Ryan Zimmerman was one of 7 players to play in all 162 games of the season.

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24.

In November 2007 during the offseason Ryan Zimmerman participated in a homerun derby fundraiser for Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Virginia.

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25.

Ryan Zimmerman broke his wrist and could not complete the derby and required surgery prior to the 2008 season.

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26.

Ryan Zimmerman hit safely in 30 consecutive games, the longest such streak by any player since 2006.

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27.

Ryan Zimmerman won a Fielding Bible Award as Major League Baseball's best fielding third baseman.

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28.

Ryan Zimmerman won the ESPN Web Gems Award, which is given to the player with the most Top 10 plays on the "Baseball Tonight" show, the first player given that award.

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29.

Ryan Zimmerman homered a second time in the same game, the 7th multi-homer game of his career.

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30.

Ryan Zimmerman's extension included a full no-trade clause, effective 2014.

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31.

Ryan Zimmerman had previously set a deadline of the day before to sign an extension.

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32.

Ryan Zimmerman could make as little as $126 million or as much as $150 million over the full life of the contract.

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33.

Ryan Zimmerman struggled early in the 2012 season due to shoulder pain, hitting only.

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34.

Ryan Zimmerman would make his first appearance in the postseason in 2012 as a result of the Nationals winning the National League East and he hit.

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35.

Ryan Zimmerman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in the off-season to repair the scar tissue that had bothered him in 2012.

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36.

Ryan Zimmerman, playing left field, caught the final out to what as at the time the longest game by innings in Nationals history.

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37.

Ryan Zimmerman enjoyed a major offensive return to form during the 2017 season, and he was voted onto the National League All-Star roster as the starting first baseman, his first selection to the All-Star Game since 2009.

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38.

On July 27, Ryan Zimmerman hit the fourth consecutive home run by Nationals hitters off Milwaukee Brewers starter Michael Blazek, the first time the feat had been accomplished in Major League Baseball since the 2011 season.

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39.

Ryan Zimmerman finished the night by going 4 for 4 with two home runs and 5 RBIs.

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40.

Ryan Zimmerman was awarded the 2017 Players Choice Award Comeback Player of the Year Award.

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41.

Ryan Zimmerman missed nearly half of the 2018 season due to an oblique injury.

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42.

In 2019, the Nationals made the playoffs as the first National League Wild Card team and in the Wild Card Game on October 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Zimmerman hit a crucial pinch hit single in the 8th inning against Josh Hader as part of a rally to help the Nationals win the game and advance to the next round.

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43.

The Nationals would go on to win the 2019 World Series in 7 games and Ryan Zimmerman would earn his first career World Series Championship.

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44.

Ryan Zimmerman retired as the franchise all-time leader in many statistical categories including hits, home runs, RBI, and games played .

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45.

Ryan Zimmerman has cited his mother's condition as a substantial formative influence on his development, saying that it forced him to grow up and assume responsibilities at an earlier age than most children.

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46.

Ryan Zimmerman founded the ziMS Foundation, which is dedicated to treating and curing multiple sclerosis.

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47.

Ryan Zimmerman became engaged to Heather Downen, a tech-firm sales representative, in April 2012, and they married in January 2013.

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