Everyone Loves ‘Zim’: Packed House Pays Homage to Former Cav, MLB Star

May 2, 2022
An aerial shot of the UVA baseball field, with the number 11 mowed into the grass

A record crowd of 5,919 was on hand for “Ryan Zimmerman Day” on Saturday at Disharoon Park. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)

With his wife, four children and parents by his side, former University of Virginia baseball star Ryan Zimmerman’s fought back tears of joy Saturday afternoon as he reflected on his time as a student-athlete at the University of Virginia.

“Enjoy the heck out of your time in college, man,” Zimmerman told the UVA and Virginia Tech players watching from their dugouts at Disharoon Park, “because it’s the greatest time of your life.”

In front of a record crowd of 5,919, Zimmerman – who went on to stardom as a professional for the Washington Nationals – was honored during “Ryan Zimmerman Day” prior to UVA’s 6-3 victory over Virginia Tech.

“Charlottesville is a special place to me,” said Zimmerman amid loud ovations from the crowd, many of whom lined up hours before the gates opened in bid to receive one of 500 Zimmerman bobblehead statues being handed out. “I keep trying to come back as much as I can, stay involved in the community.”

Zimmerman, who played at UVA from 2003 to 2005, has certainly done that.

Ryan Zimmerman holds a microphone and his small son, among the rest of his family in the middle of the baseball field

Zimmerman’s wife, four children and parents were by his side for Saturday’s festivities. (UVA Athletics photo)

In 2016, he donated $1 million to the Virginia Athletics Foundation in support of the UVA baseball program. He had previously donated $250,000 toward the renovation of the team’s clubhouse, and the team’s indoor hitting facility bears his name.

And through his ziMS Foundation, Zimmerman has raised awareness and money for multiple sclerosis – which his mother suffers from – some of it benefitting research at UVA Health.

On Saturday, Zimmerman thanked his mother and father as UVA retired his No. 11, with the numerals mowed into the outfield grass as a further tribute.

Then, while holding his son, Henry, Zimmerman threw a ceremonial first pitch to UVA head coach Brian O’Connor.

“It’s just so rare to see a player of that magnitude do what they did at the highest level of baseball, and then to be so engaged back at the school that they went to,” O’Connor told reporters. “It is really impressive, and it just speaks to who he is as a man.”

Zimmerman said he wouldn’t trade his UVA experience for anything.

“The three years that I was here, I grew as a college baseball player, but I also grew as a person,” he told the crowd. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t go here.”

On social media, Hoos fans everywhere showed their appreciation for Zim.

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May 2, 2022

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