Former Ripon foe, UWSP pitcher Jordan Zimmermann makes it to the show
John Bailey
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Sports
Less than three years after being a thorn in the side of Bob Gillespie and his Ripon College Red Hawk baseball team, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point pitcher Jordan Zimmermann has busted onto the scene of Major League Baseball.
Zimmermann has won his first two decisions of the year for the Washington Nationals and has helped them end two long losing streaks.
Senior Mike Lloyd notes the impressive feat that can still be achieved by Div. III athletes.
"[Making it to the big leagues] was a challenge but it just shows that just because you don't receive a division I scholarship doesn't mean you can't take it to the next level," says Lloyd.
Zimmermann was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft and wasted no time being named the number one prospect in the Nationals organization in 2008.
While many of the current Red Hawks were left to watch Zimmermann pitch while sitting in the dugout, Lloyd pitched to Zimmermann in a regional playoff game in 2007 and retired him four straight times.
Zimmerman will have the chance to continue swinging the bat, as he is a member of the National League.
"What I remember the most [while facing him] is making sure to hit my spots as a pitcher and if I was going to miss, make sure it wasn't over the middle of the plate," says Lloyd.
While Zimmermann isn't shabby at the plate, it is his arm that makes him such a good MLB pitcher. While at Point he struck out a school record 15 Red Hawks en route to a 6-4 victory in a 2006 regional elimination game.
While all the Ripon players who were on the wrong end of the strikeout have graduated, senior catcher Alex Duros faced off against an extremely young Zimmermann in high school and was unable to come by success.
"It is pretty awesome to know that I batted against a current Major League pitcher, despite the fact that he made me look like a fool at the plate. I am not alone, however, as he had a tendency to do that to all hitters he faced in high school," says Duros.
Duros was 1 for 3 versus Zimmermann with two strikeouts.
The first time that the Nationals utilized that fifth starter was April 20 against the Atlanta Braves. He allowed two runs in six innings to pick up the victory, outdueling Derek Lowe.
This past Sunday, Zimmermann picked up his second victory allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-1 victory over the New York Mets. The win for the Nationals marked the team's first road win in their past 16 road games.
Through his first two starts, Zimmermann has an E.R.A. of 2.38, the best starter for the hopeless Nationals. He starts again against the St.Louis Cardinals on May 1st, so look for a no show from the gNats.
Zimmermann has won his first two decisions of the year for the Washington Nationals and has helped them end two long losing streaks.
Senior Mike Lloyd notes the impressive feat that can still be achieved by Div. III athletes.
"[Making it to the big leagues] was a challenge but it just shows that just because you don't receive a division I scholarship doesn't mean you can't take it to the next level," says Lloyd.
Zimmermann was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft and wasted no time being named the number one prospect in the Nationals organization in 2008.
While many of the current Red Hawks were left to watch Zimmermann pitch while sitting in the dugout, Lloyd pitched to Zimmermann in a regional playoff game in 2007 and retired him four straight times.
Zimmerman will have the chance to continue swinging the bat, as he is a member of the National League.
"What I remember the most [while facing him] is making sure to hit my spots as a pitcher and if I was going to miss, make sure it wasn't over the middle of the plate," says Lloyd.
While Zimmermann isn't shabby at the plate, it is his arm that makes him such a good MLB pitcher. While at Point he struck out a school record 15 Red Hawks en route to a 6-4 victory in a 2006 regional elimination game.
While all the Ripon players who were on the wrong end of the strikeout have graduated, senior catcher Alex Duros faced off against an extremely young Zimmermann in high school and was unable to come by success.
"It is pretty awesome to know that I batted against a current Major League pitcher, despite the fact that he made me look like a fool at the plate. I am not alone, however, as he had a tendency to do that to all hitters he faced in high school," says Duros.
Duros was 1 for 3 versus Zimmermann with two strikeouts.
The first time that the Nationals utilized that fifth starter was April 20 against the Atlanta Braves. He allowed two runs in six innings to pick up the victory, outdueling Derek Lowe.
This past Sunday, Zimmermann picked up his second victory allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings in an 8-1 victory over the New York Mets. The win for the Nationals marked the team's first road win in their past 16 road games.
Through his first two starts, Zimmermann has an E.R.A. of 2.38, the best starter for the hopeless Nationals. He starts again against the St.Louis Cardinals on May 1st, so look for a no show from the gNats.
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