Washington native Ryan Zimmerman to start MLB All-Star Game

Published 4:15 pm Tuesday, July 4, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman was one of five players on his team to be named 2017 Major League All-Stars. The announcement came out Sunday that the Beaufort County native would be playing in his first Midsummer Classic since 2009.

Zimmerman grew up in Washington, N.C., before moving to Virginia Beach, Virginia, for high school. He attended Kellam High School and was the starting shortstop for the Virginia Cavaliers for three years.

Even though Zimmerman spent his adolescent years in Virginia, the all star’s bio reads “Washington, N.C.” every time it pops up on the scoreboard at Nationals Park.

Zimmerman was last named to the National League’s all-star squad during a breakout season eight years ago. The campaign included a 30-game hit streak and a span of 43-straight games in which he reached base. His efforts earned him the Gold Glove Award for best defensive third baseman, and the Silver Slugger Award as best offensive performer at the position.

This season, Zimmerman is batting at a .330 clip and has 62 RBI. He got off to a blistering start to the season with six hits through the Nationals’ opening series against Miami. He finished April with a .420 average. His batting average peaked at .435 after a 2-for-4 showing against Philadelphia just over a month into the season. The next game against the Phillies marked the end of a 13-game streak in which he notched 26 hits.

Zimmerman will be joined by teammates Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. This marks the second year in a row — and only second time in Nationals history — that Washington has sent five players to the MLB All-Star Game.

The game will take place at Marlins Park in Miami on July 11.