Less than 2-years ago, Jordan Zimmerman helped lead UW-Stevens Point to a third place finish at the NCAA Division III College World Series. Tonight, Zimmerman makes his major league baseball debut when he takes the mound for the Washington Nationals, against the visiting Atlanta Braves.
Zimmerman went from Stevens Point to the big leagues in roughly 23 months. It's a remarkable accomplishment for the Auburndale, Wisconsin native. He was the 67th overall pick by Washington in the 2007 first-year player draft. In the minors, he went 15-5 with a 2.74 ERA with 205 strikeouts and only 65 walks in 187 innings. Zimmerman was a non-roster invitee to training camp and there went 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five appearances.
Zimmerman won't turn 23 until May 23, but he's already been named the #1 prospect in the Nationals' organization by Baseball America magazine earlier this year.