VIERA, Fla. (AP) -Jordan Zimmermann found himself growing a bit anxious this winter, wondering why spring training was only about 1 1/2 months away and no one from the Washington Nationals had called to invite him to their major league camp.
He was, after all, honored as Washington’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2008. Rated the club’s No. 1 prospect by Baseball America. An up-and-coming pitcher in an organization that, frankly, could use some pitching.
“I just figured I’d be going, and I was just like, ‘I should be getting a call. I should be getting a call. I should be getting a call,”’ Zimmermann said. “Just waiting, waiting, waiting. Finally, I talked to my agent.”
He called his agent, his agent called the Nationals, and about 10 minutes later, Zimmermann was hearing back from his agent with the news: Yes, the team wants you there.
Cubs. “I’m coming here to try to break (camp) with the team.”
And so it was that at 11 a.m. Monday, the first official workout day for Washington’s pitchers and catchers at 2009 spring training, the 22-year-old right-hander was throwing a bullpen session.
Anyone in baseball will tell you that no one can tell much of anything from a relaxed, 10-minute toss with no batters around on Day 1 of spring. And yet on this day, Zimmermann – a kid who’s made all of 35 pro starts, none higher than at Double-A Harrisburg – was drawing rave reviews.
“He’s something else,” said 1990 World Series MVP Jose Rijo, a special assistant to Nationals general manager Jim Bowden. “We’ve got to keep an eye on him. He’s ready right now.”
Said starting catcher Jesus Flores, who caught Zimmermann on Monday: “Oh, my god, he’s got good command of his stuff.”
Flores got a close-up look at fastballs, changeups and curveballs, though not Zimmermann’s slider.
“A lot of strikes, so that was good,” said Zimmermann, who went a combined 10-3 with one save, a 2.89 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 25 appearances (24 starts) at Harrisburg and Class-A Potomac in 2008.
He wasn’t bothered by the close attention he received Monday from pitching coach Randy St. Claire, who stood with arms crossed, about 6 feet behind Zimmermann for part of the session.
“arm stroke” or “arm path” – a quick, direct delivery that should help prevent problems with mechanics.
“I love his arm,” St. Claire said. “He’s a strong kid, he has a good body and everything. His lines are very good. Delivery is very solid for a young kid and everything. Very impressive.”
Asked generally what, if anything, stood out from the year’s first workout, manager Manny Acta mentioned a particular name right away.
“It was fun to see Zimmermann,” Acta said, “to see the arm that everyone is raving about.”
The two already had chatted Sunday.
“I told him, ‘Just don’t put too much pressure on yourself and let things take care of themselves. I believe what everybody’s been saying about you, but it’s six weeks,”’ Acta said, referring to the length of spring training. “We just try to make these guys understand that no one is going to make this club on the first or second day.”
Funny thing is, it wasn’t that long ago that the furthest thing from Zimmermann’s mind was reaching the majors. That’s because it wasn’t that long ago his fastball was topping out at about 85 mph, instead of the 94 mph or so he can reach now.
and baseball while earning a business degree that could lead to a more conventional career.
In high school, when he also played basketball, there wasn’t enough time for the sort of weightlifting Zimmermann started doing in college. But by deciding to focus on baseball, and by building up what is now a 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, strengthening his legs, in particular – “He uses his legs so well,” Rijo pointed out – Zimmermann increased his velocity.
After his sophomore season in college, Zimmermann produced a 1.01 ERA in 10 starts in the Northwoods League in Wisconsin, drawing scouts’ attention.
That, he says, is when he finally realized playing in the majors was a real possibility.
Some of his childhood friends – the ones he grew up playing baseball and football and basketball with – also stayed near home for college, but they went to Wisconsin-Eau Claire. There’s no baseball team at that school, though.
“So I went to ‘Point,”’ Zimmermann said Monday, his nose red from his Wisconsin skin getting acquainted with the Florida sun, “and here I am.”
Here he is, indeed. Never should have been anxious at all.
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