Mound Talk

Drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Washington Nationals out of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Jordan Zimmerman was immediately assigned to the New York-Penn League. The 6-foot-2, 200 pound right handed pitcher is 21 years old.

Zimmerman was an outstanding athlete who flew under the radar of a lot of college programs. At Stevens Point, he became one of the teams best hitters and anchored a pitching staff that went to the Division III World Series in 2006. Following that campaign, he went to the Northwooods League, a wood bat league for college players, and dominated. He threw 80 innings for the Eau Claire Express and was named the league’s top prospect. He struck out 92 batters and posted an ERA of 1.01.

Zimmerman went to Vermont of the New York-Penn League after being drafted. He threw 53 innings there allowing just 45 hits. He struck out 71 and walked just 18. His RA9 was 2.38 and induced 51% of hitters to hit groundballs.

ON THE BUMP

Zimmerman boasts a good reportoire of pitches starting with his fastball. A true plus pitch, he works in the 91-93 range consistently. He has good heavy sinking motion on his fastball and will attack hitters on the lower half of the plate with it.

Zimmerman threw a good slider with sharp, late bite to it in college but has stopped throwing it as much at the instruction of the Washington Nationals. In college, he could throw the pitch in the mid-upper 80s and used it as a good out pitch. It is likely that he will continue to use it sparingly to reduce the stress on his body.

Lagging behind these pitches are his changeup and curveball. His curve is becoming a bigger part of his aresenal with the diminishing use of the slider. He throws a big 12-6 curve that sits in the low 70s. He needs to continue to work at getting consistency out of this pitch and hiding it better. It certainly has potential to be a plus pitch but at the moment sits as an average curve.

His change could also use some work. Like the curve, it could be a good pitch but presently sits average.

Everything about Jordan Zimmerman looks good. He is a big, college pitcher with lots of projection. He is polished and has great makeup. Even for a college pitcher, his polish and makeup is advanced. For this reason, he should be fast-tracked by the Nationals.

Zimmerman has a big arm and knows how to use it. He constantly challenges hitters at every level. He has very good mechanics and uses his strong legs to generate more velocity on his pitches. He has good arm action and is always moving his body together towards the plate.

THE FUTURE

Zimmerman could be looking at a High-A assignment next season with a chance to move up if he is not challenged there. He’s a safe bet to rise quickly due to his stuff, mentality and polish. His ceiling looks to be a #4 or 5 pitcher at the big league level.