Interview: Ryan Zimmerman, 3B of the Washington Nationals
By Caitlin HinkleyNovember 5, 2009
A team player that triggered the positive turn-around for the University of Virginia baseball program just a few years ago is now a constructive player for the major league baseball franchise in Washington, D.C.
Ryan Zimmerman, third baseman for the Washington Nationals, was able to sneak some computer time into his road series travel to answer questions about his experiences with baseball. He is a young, all-star athlete with a personality that grabs the positive attention from a variety of people from diverse groups throughout the nation, from young baseball players to beach lovers to those affected by multiple sclerosis. Zimmerman offers a glimpse of his life as an up-and-coming baseball star, from his development as a young baseball player to what he’s accomplished because of his professional status.
What follows is a selection of questions and answers from that interview with Ryan Zimmerman.
Q: When did you start playing baseball? How did you get involved?
Zimmerman: I started playing baseball when I was little. In the backyard with my mom and dad. I guess I got involved when I started playing tee ball with the other kids in the neighborhood.
Q: When did you realize that baseball was the sport for you?
Zimmerman: I didn't realize until I was able to go to college and play. I really liked basketball and football until I got to high school. Then I started focusing on baseball.
Q: Who was your biggest influence/role model?
Zimmerman: My parents.
Q: How often did you practice/play growing up, before high school?
Zimmerman: I played on a team that practiced and played a lot during the summer but I enjoyed playing all different types of sports.
Zimmerman: High school ball was a lot of fun! Not a lot of pressure just having fun and playing with my friends that I grew up playing ball with.
Q: What was it like to play for UVA? How was college ball different than playing in high school?
Zimmerman: Playing at UVA was awesome. Perfect mix between big time college baseball and being able to have a lot of fun in a college town.
Q: You set (and broke) some records in college? Which accomplishments were you most proud of?
Zimmerman: I think I’m most proud of being a part of a program that turned around while I was there. We had a lot of great players and to go from the program almost being cut off to where it is now was great to be a part of.
Q: The franchise is still building, but Nats’ fans are still very loyal. What are your hopes for the team in the future? What’s your role in getting to that point?
Zimmerman: The fans here are great! It's a tough time bc we have a young team but it will be worth it in a year or so when we all mature and become competitive year in and year out.
Q: You’re not just known for playing baseball. Everyone also can agree that you’re a pretty good guy. You set up the ziMS Foundation. Can you tell me a little more about that?
Zimmerman: The foundation has been around for 4 years now. My mom has MS so it's something that means a lot to me and I enjoy being able to do things to help not just my own family but everyone who is affected by this disease.
[The ziMS Foundation, set up in 2006, is a foundation for multiple sclerosis awareness and the search for the cure. While stated earlier as one affected by the disease, Zimmerman’s mother is also a member of the Board of Directors. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. More than 300,000 people in the United States are affected by the disease. For more information, see http://www.zimsfoundation.org.]
Q: Obviously your family is important to you. What’s it like to be playing for a team so close to home?
Zimmerman: It's nice. I consider myself very lucky to be in the situation that I'm in.
Q: What is your advice to young athletes for transitioning from high school to college/college to professional leagues?
Zimmerman: Have fun with the game. No matter what league you are in it should always be fun. That doesn't mean you don't have to work hard though. Challenge yourself to work harder than everyone else.
[Now, the following are some questions that really don’t have much to do with the general outline of this interview. But curiosity can lead to some unsuspecting answers.]
Q: If you weren’t playing baseball, what would you want to do as a career?
Zimmerman: Wanted to be a marine biologist. Growing up on the beach it has always been an interest of mine.
Q: Who was the most intimidating MLB player to play against…?
Zimmerman: John Smoltz.
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