Jeff Zimmerman
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Ross Zimmerman (born August 9, 1972 in Kelowna
, British Columbia
, Canada
) is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He pitched in Major League Baseball
from 1999-2001 for the Texas Rangers
.
, played baseball in the French Elite League for one season with the Montpelier Barracudas. In 1996, he pitched for the Canadian Olympic baseball team; they failed to qualify for the Olympics. After taking some time off from baseball to earn his Master of Business Administration
degree at Simon Fraser University, he played with the independent
Northern League's Winnipeg Goldeyes
in 1997.
with the Texas Rangers in 1998 and played at both the A and AA minor league
levels. In 1999 he made his way onto the Rangers Major League squad after a short stint at the AAA minor league level. He became a very successful middle relief pitcher
in the bullpen
and even became an All-Star
that season (his only All-Star appearance). Zimmerman tied the record for most consecutive winning decisions to start a career with nine wins. In 2001, he became the Rangers' closer and amassed 28 saves in a season that culminated in the Rangers naming him the club's Pitcher of the Year. Over the three years from 1999 through 2001, he totaled 17 wins
, 32 saves
, and a 3.27 ERA
in 228 2/3 IP
in 196 games.
Following this trend of top performance, the Rangers rewarded Zimmerman with a three year contract worth over $10 million. Unfortunately, Zimmerman suffered a series of injuries that, as of 2008, have prevented him from throwing another pitch in MLB, beginning with a spring training
injury in 2002 and continuing through three major surgeries on his elbow, including two Tommy John surgeries
. He did manage a handful of minor league and Arizona League
games, but never close to a full season and never at the MLB level. Following the end of this contract, which covered 2002 through 2004, the Rangers reinvested in Zimmerman with a minor league contract for the 2005 season. Again Zimmerman suffered injuries that prevented his return to the field of play for the course of the entire season.
Zimmerman elected to take the 2006 season off in hopes that his arm would naturally heal over the course of the season. T. R. Sullivan, the Rangers' beat writer on MLB.com, called this decision "his last, best hope" for returning to playing baseball. Having not competed in a game since 2003, Zimmerman retired in 2006 and moved back to Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2008, The Sports Network
listed Zimmerman as retired and gives his career potential as, "After four years out with injuries, he may be done."
On January 18, 2006 Lone Star Ball, a Texas Rangers blog, named Zimmerman 46 on "The 50 Greatest Rangers of All Time" list.
. He has spent the first several weeks of the season in extended spring training.
Zimmerman who had been plagued with injuries for most of his career said this about his baseball abilities after sitting out for so long:
Zimmerman appeared in one game for the Arizona League Mariners, pitching two innings and giving up one run. He has not pitched professionally since.
, also played in the Major Leagues
as a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
. Jeff recorded a victory against his brother on July 2, 1999.
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a former professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He pitched in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1999-2001 for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
Independent baseball
Zimmerman, who attended Texas Christian UniversityTexas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, played baseball in the French Elite League for one season with the Montpelier Barracudas. In 1996, he pitched for the Canadian Olympic baseball team; they failed to qualify for the Olympics. After taking some time off from baseball to earn his Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree at Simon Fraser University, he played with the independent
Independent baseball
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...
Northern League's Winnipeg Goldeyes
Winnipeg Goldeyes
The Winnipeg Goldeyes are a professional baseball team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada. The Goldeyes play in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 1994 to 2010, the team was a member of the Northern League.The...
in 1997.
Texas Rangers
Zimmerman signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Texas Rangers in 1998 and played at both the A and AA minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
levels. In 1999 he made his way onto the Rangers Major League squad after a short stint at the AAA minor league level. He became a very successful middle relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
and even became an All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
that season (his only All-Star appearance). Zimmerman tied the record for most consecutive winning decisions to start a career with nine wins. In 2001, he became the Rangers' closer and amassed 28 saves in a season that culminated in the Rangers naming him the club's Pitcher of the Year. Over the three years from 1999 through 2001, he totaled 17 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, 32 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and a 3.27 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 228 2/3 IP
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
in 196 games.
Following this trend of top performance, the Rangers rewarded Zimmerman with a three year contract worth over $10 million. Unfortunately, Zimmerman suffered a series of injuries that, as of 2008, have prevented him from throwing another pitch in MLB, beginning with a spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
injury in 2002 and continuing through three major surgeries on his elbow, including two Tommy John surgeries
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
. He did manage a handful of minor league and Arizona League
Arizona League
The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
games, but never close to a full season and never at the MLB level. Following the end of this contract, which covered 2002 through 2004, the Rangers reinvested in Zimmerman with a minor league contract for the 2005 season. Again Zimmerman suffered injuries that prevented his return to the field of play for the course of the entire season.
Zimmerman elected to take the 2006 season off in hopes that his arm would naturally heal over the course of the season. T. R. Sullivan, the Rangers' beat writer on MLB.com, called this decision "his last, best hope" for returning to playing baseball. Having not competed in a game since 2003, Zimmerman retired in 2006 and moved back to Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2008, The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
listed Zimmerman as retired and gives his career potential as, "After four years out with injuries, he may be done."
On January 18, 2006 Lone Star Ball, a Texas Rangers blog, named Zimmerman 46 on "The 50 Greatest Rangers of All Time" list.
Seattle Mariners
On April 7, 2009, Zimmerman came out of retirement, signing a minor league deal with the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He has spent the first several weeks of the season in extended spring training.
Zimmerman who had been plagued with injuries for most of his career said this about his baseball abilities after sitting out for so long:
Zimmerman appeared in one game for the Arizona League Mariners, pitching two innings and giving up one run. He has not pitched professionally since.
Personal
Jeff's brother, Jordan ZimmermanJordan Zimmerman
Jordan William Zimmerman is a former Major League pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. Zimmerman also pitched for the Long Island Ducks in ....
, also played in the Major Leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. Jeff recorded a victory against his brother on July 2, 1999.