Ryan Zimmerman knows his way around third base, but detour the Nationals rookie off his commuting path from Arlington to RFK Stadium and life in Washington suddenly becomes daunting for the rookie.
“I learned to get to the stadium and get home and anything else I have to use the [GPS] navigational system,” he said. “I use it all the time.”
There are plenty of firsts for Zimmerman nowadays. Only three months into his first season after a brief call-up last summer, the National League Rookie of the Year candidate sometimes finds life more challenging away from the stadium. Everything is new to the Nationals 2005 first-round pick, from teammates to travel.
Zimmerman is trying to find comfort through structure in a life that lacks much continuity. Four years ago, he was playing high school ball. Last June, Zimmerman was drafted fifth overall by the Nationals as the second coming of Mike Schmidt, Scott Rolen and Brooks Robinson combined.
He has produced with such lofty pressure despite not turning 22 years old until the season’s final week. Zimmerman’s diving outfield catch to save two runs against Atlanta on April 21 was a career highlight clip. His behind-the-bag throw to end a victory over Los Angeles on May 28 was worthy of any Robinson comparison. And with nine home runs already this season, he has become another reliable big bat.
Feeling comfortable in his daily life contributes to the improved play, Zimmerman said. Nobody likes arriving at work after being lost in traffic for an hour because of construction detours.
“You learn all the stuff you need to do every day,” he said. “You get more comfortable and that makes it easier to do the job and have fun.”
But Zimmerman is trying not to lose the wide-eyed perspective of youth. Seeing legendary stadiums on the road is part of the fun. Touching the ivy on the walls of Wrigley Field was the highlight, though the series starting Monday in Boston and getting to see the Green Monster could be even better.
“The ivy was a coolexperience,” Zimmerman said. “Just knowing all the baseball played at that stadium and knowing who has been there. It’s fun to see all the differences [at the stadiums]. When you go to Wrigley, you’ve been watching it all your life.”
OK, maybe it hasn’t been a long life. Zimmerman missed the ’70s by four years alone. He didn’t see Willie Mays or Hank Aaron play, but Zimmerman knows the game and appreciates the chance to grow as one of the Nats icons.
There remains another major challenge, though. The 162-game schedule will wear on him come the dog days of August. He has never played so much baseball before. Then again, playing every day for nearly six months is what makes it so great to someone who just passed the legal drinking age last fall.
So what if the workday runs at least 10 hours daily? Who cares if autograph hounds yell nonstop when maybe he should rest a few minutes before the game? It doesn’t matter if Zimmerman’s the hot new blood on a team settling in to its new town.
Life is good and Zimmerman is smart enough to enjoy it.
“It’s a fast-paced lifestyle,” he said. “You’re always doing something. It’s a grind, but I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
Now if they would keep the downtown streets clear …
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
