Ryan Zimmerman Biography, Stats, Contract, Who is the Wife? How Old Is He?

Quick Facts

Ryan Zimmerman is a professional baseball player who is well known for his clutch hitting and walk-off hits. The veteran currently plays as first baseman for Major League Baseball team, the Washington Nationals, who he has represented ever since he was drafted by the side in 2005.

Biography

Ryan Zimmerman was born Ryan Wallace Zimmerman on the 28th of September 1984 in Washington, North Carolina to his parents; Keith and Cheryl Zimmerman. His father Keith was a baseball player who played third base at Atlantic Christian College while his mother Cheryl was a lacrosse player and runner. He has only one sibling, a brother named Shawn who was born three years after him.

After moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia in the 90s, Ryan Zimmerman began to follow in the footsteps of his parents to become an athlete. He and his brother played baseball extensively while growing up. He also had a key interest in surfing which was prompted by the fact that they lived in a house that was right next to the beach. Another sport in which he flourished in was basketball although he did not take it seriously.

Life took a harsh turn on the family when their mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995. Her condition later became worse in 1998 after she broke 12 of her vertebrae following an accident on a personal watercraft. The trauma she suffered accelerate the course of the disease which now began to take a toll on her being able to carry out her daily activities.

Ryan, who was still a teenager during the difficult time, had to grow up fast and be responsibility off himself and his brother as he did more chores and was tasked with making dinner. His love for baseball even grew more as he found peace in playing the game.

Zimmerman played high school baseball for Kellam High School as well as other summer and fall leagues. He most notably played for the Tidewater Orioles who had future big-league stars such as David Wright and B.J. Upton. He later got a partial scholarship to attend the University of Virginia and play for Virginia Cavaliers baseball team after impressing its coaches during the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The school coaches converted Ryan Zimmerman to a third baseman, a position he had never played before. He went on to start and played in a total of 174 games. Some of the collegiate awards he won along the way include 2005 All-American by Baseball America, 2005 All-American by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and the 2005 All-ACC selection. He was also the 2005 Virginia College Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Player of the Year.

Zimmerman declared himself eligible for the 2005 MLB Draft as a junior and was then selected with the fourth overall pick by the Washington Nationals. Following a stint at the Nationals’ minor league A-level affiliate, the Savannah Sand Gnats, and then with the Harrisburg Senators, Zimmerman was called up to the majors when rosters expanded in September 2005. He has since then played with the team to date.

Stats

While in College, Zimmerman led his team with a .393 average, .581 slugging percentage, 136 total bases, 92 hits, 59 RBIs, and 51 runs. In his rookie season, he was the only member of the team to hit over .300 in at least 50 at-bats. Over the course of 20 games, he posted a .397 batting average, 10 doubles, and 6 RBIs in 58 at-bats.

Presently, over the course of his career so far, Ryan Zimmerman has played over 1585 games. He has managed a .279 batting average, .475 slugging percentage, 374 doubles, 1689 hits, 953 RBIs in 6055 at-bats.

Ryan Zimmerman’s Contract

Ryan Zimmerman’s contract with the Washington Nationals, which was agreed upon in 2012, has him taking home $126 million over the span of eight years. The contract contains a full no-trade clause and could go up to $150 million if he chooses to stay an extra year.

Family – Who is his wife?

Ryan Zimmerman is married to Heather Zimmerman (nee Downen). The couple got engaged in April 2012 after a few years of dating and got married in January 2013. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Mackenzie, in November 2013, and then another daughter, named Hayden, in June 2016.

According to various outlets, Heather Zimmerman studied journalism in college before getting to work as an Associate Producer at a news show. She has also reportedly worked as a tech-firm sales representative but quit to dedicate all of her time and resources to raising her children. She, however, also helps in the running of her husband’s charity, ziMS Foundation, which aims to find a cure for sclerosis.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.