Jordan Zimmermann

Life and career

Zimmermann was born in Auburndale, Wisconsin, where he played all four years of high school on the varsity team at Auburndale High School. He began his career as a catcher, then moved to multiple positions due to his versatility. He was used as a starting pitcher as well as a closer in tight games. Zimmermann attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.

In 2008, Zimmermann had a combined 10–3 record with a 2.89 earned run average (ERA) with the Potomac Nationals of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League and the Harrisburg Senators of the Class AA Eastern League, and in July was named to the Eastern League All-Star team. He finished the season leading the organization in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average, and was the MILB.com Nationals pitcher of the year.

2009

Zimmermann was rated the Nationals' best prospect going into the 2009 MLB season, according to Baseball America. In 2009, Zimmermann made the Nationals' roster as the fifth starter; however, the Nationals did not need him in the rotation until mid-April, so Zimmermann opened the season with the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. Zimmermann's contract was purchased on April 20, 2009, and he made his major league debut that night, after a two-plus hour rain delay, against the Atlanta Braves. He pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with three strikeouts and a walk, earning the victory.

In his second game against the New York Mets, Zimmermann won his second game in as many starts, becoming the first Nationals/Expos pitcher to win his first two starts of his career since Randy Johnson did so in 1988. Coincidentally, Zimmermann was the losing pitcher in Johnson's historic 300th win on June 4, 2009.

Zimmermann experienced elbow pain, and in July landed on the disabled list. After attempted rehab, in August 2009 Zimmermann was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery, expecting to miss 18 months. He finished his rookie season of 2009 going 3–5 with a 4.63 ERA in 16 starts.

2010

In 2010, he made quick progress. Over four minor league levels, he started 10 games in limited play, racking up just 39.2 innings, but compiling a solid record: 1.59 ERA, 27 hits allowed, 31 strikeouts, and just six walks. On August 26 he was recalled to make his 2010 debut back in the big leagues, where Zimmermann got a no-decision in an eventual win by the Nationals over the Cardinals. On this same day, the Nationals learned that their other young pitching phenom, Stephen Strasburg, would need Tommy John surgery and would be out for 12–18 months. In Zimmermann's second return start, however, five days later, he pitched six shutout innings, allowing only one hit, no walks, and striking out nine, a personal best. He also became the first National to get through six innings facing only 18 batters. Zimmermann finished the 2010 year 1–2 with a 4.94 ERA in seven starts.

2011

On May 6, 2011, Zimmermann pitched an immaculate inning versus the Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium. He finished the 2011 year 8–11 with a 3.18 ERA.

2012

On May 28, 2012, Zimmermann hit his first career home run off of Miami Marlins pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Zimmermann became the third Nationals pitcher named NL Pitcher of the Month during the 2012 season when the selection was announced on August 2, 2012. During July he went 4–0 with a MLB-best 0.97 ERA. He gave up 27 hits in 37 innings and struck out 31 compared to 4 walks. He finished the 2012 season 12–8 with a 2.94 ERA.

In Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series, Zimmermann made a relief appearance in the 7th inning, his first since 2008 at A-level Potomac. Entering a tie game, Zimmermann struck out the side. The Nationals would eventually lose the series to the St. Louis Cardinals after Game 5.

2013

Zimmermann hurled his first career shutout on April 26, 2013, with a one-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. It was the second straight one-hitter by Nationals pitching in the series, marking the first occasion since 1917 that a Washington team achieved that streak, and the first time since 1900 that the Reds were victimized that way.

In 2013, Zimmermann was named to his first All-Star Game, but chose not to play due to stiffness in his neck. He finished the season with a career high in wins, going 19–9, while also posting a 3.25 ERA over 32 starts.

2014

On September 28, 2014, the last day of the regular season, Zimmermann threw the first no-hitter in Washington Nationals history, a 1–0 win over the Miami Marlins and Henderson Alvarez, the pitcher who threw the final no-hitter of the 2013 season. Zimmermann faced only one over the minimum in the game; only a fifth inning walk to Justin Bour and a seventh inning third strike wild pitch that allowed Garrett Jones (who was subsequently picked off) to reach first base separated him from a perfect game. This was also the first time in MLB history that a no-hitter had been thrown on the final day in two consecutive seasons. He finished the season with a 14–5 record and a 2.66 ERA.

2015

Zimmermann finished the 2015 season with a record of 13–10 along with a 3.66 ERA, 1.205 WHIP and 164 strikeouts in 201 ²⁄₃ innings pitched. Following the season, he became one of a record 20 players to receive a qualifying offer.

2016

On November 30, 2015, the Detroit Tigers signed Zimmermann to a five-year, $110 million contract.

Zimmermann was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April. During the month of April, Zimmermann allowed just two earned runs in 33 innings pitched, for a 0.55 ERA. He was 5–0, becoming the sixth pitcher to finish April with five-plus wins, zero losses and a sub-1.00 ERA. He joins Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Randy Johnson (2000), Cliff Lee (2008), Zack Greinke (2009), and Ubaldo Jiménez (2010). Zimmermann's 0.55 ERA is the third-best mark for April in Tigers history. The only two Detroit pitchers with better ERAs in April were Bernie Boland with a 0.30 ERA in 1915 and John Hiller with a 0.36 ERA in 1974. On July 4, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a neck strain.

2017

On May 23, Zimmermann recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in a game against the Houston Astros. On July 17, in a game against the Kansas City Royals, Zimmermann threw 79 strikes out of 97 pitches, an 81 percent strike rate that ranks as the best by a Tigers starter with 80 pitches or more since at least 1988, and was the best by a Major League starter since 2008.

Pitching style

Zimmermann is mainly a three-pitch pitcher. He throws a four-seam fastball at 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) that tops out at 98 miles per hour (158 km/h), a slider which he describes as a "baby cutter" (86 miles per hour (138 km/h)), and a curveball (77 miles per hour (124 km/h)). On rare occasions, he also features a circle change to left-handed hitters.