Two-time All-Star Ryan Zimmerman announced his retirement Tuesday after 17 years with the Washington Nationals.
The franchise’s first draft pick after relocating from Montreal in 2005, Zimmerman won a World Series with the club in 2019 and is the Nationals’ all-time leader in games (1,799), runs (963), hits (1,846), doubles (417), home runs (284) and RBIs (1,061).
At age 37, Zimmerman said he is ready for the next phase of his life and spending more time with his family.
“At this point in my career, it’s not about making money,” he said, per The Washington Post. “It’s more the weighing of how much time it takes for me to put in the stuff behind the scenes that lets me still be successful on the field that people don’t really know about. And it’s worth it if you have a chance to win the World Series.
“For me, with the four kids at home now, it’s kind of like: I’ve accomplished a lot. I’ve accomplished more than I’ve ever wanted to accomplish. At this point, do I really have the 100 percent drive and commitment to do all the extracurricular stuff that I expect of myself to play the game?”
Drafted No. 4 overall out of the University of Virginia in 2005, Zimmerman broke into the big leagues that season as a third baseman. He won a Gold Glove at third in 2009 before moving to first base in 2015.
He made the National League All-Star teams in 2009 and 2017 and won Silver Slugger awards in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Zimmerman won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award as the player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of the award’s namesake.
Zimmerman opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic and returned in 2021 to bat .243 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs in 110 games. He was a lifetime .277 hitter.
–Field Level Media