Growing up in Virginia Beach, VA Ryan Zimmerman began his pathway to baseball stardom with the Tidewater Drillers and Kellam High School baseball, before committing to play collegiately at the University of Virginia. Zimmerman played for the Cavaliers for three years, starting all 174 games at third base. He was a 2005 All-American and All-ACC selection. His career totals rank in the top 10 for doubles, hits, and RBIs. Following college, Zimmerman became the first draft pick for the Washington Nationals franchise as he was selected fourth overall in the 2005 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut on September 1, 2005, and would spend 16 seasons, his entire professional career, with the Nationals. The two-time National League All-Star won the Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Awards on two occasions. Nicknamed “Mr. National,” Zimmerman compiled a career that would see him retire as the franchise leader in hits (1,846), home runs (284), RBI (1,061), and games played (1,799). In 2019 he helped the Nats capture the first World Series championship in franchise history. Zimmerman is a member of the University of Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame and has had his #11 jersey number retired by the Nationals. Outside of baseball, Zimmerman founded the ziMS Foundation, which is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of Multiple Sclerosis, raising over $3,500,000 to support its mission.
