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Jeff Zimmerman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeff Zimmerman (born August 9, 1972 in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) was a pitcher for the Texas Rangers. Although he has not officially retired, he has not pitched in Major League Baseball since 2001.
Zimmerman attended Texas Christian University before playing with the independent Northern League's Winnipeg Goldeyes in 1997. He signed as a free agent 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 totalled 17 wins, 28 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 2006, 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 has 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. [1]
His brother, Jordan Zimmerman, also played in the major leagues as a pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. Jeff recorded a victory against his brother on July 2, 1999.