NORTHWOODS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 6, 2009

Zimmerman Named Top Prospect by Baseball America
Former Express Pitcher is #1 for Washington

(EAU CLAIRE, WI) Last month Baseball America announced pitcher Jordan Zimmermann as the top prospect in the Washington Nationals organization. The right-hander and former Eau Claire Express standout in 2006 was identified as having the top fastball and slider in the Nationals farm system.

Zimmermann split the 2008 season pitching for the Potomac Nationals of the Class-A Carolina League and the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League. He finished with a record of 10-3 and a 2.89 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for the two Nationals minor league clubs. This led to him being named Washington’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year by MLB.com.

To qualify for the magazine’s ranking, the prospect must not have exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched. Zimmermann most recently played for the Nationals’ Double-A affiliate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

While playing for the Express in 2006, Zimmermann compiled a 4-2 record with a 1.01ERA in 80.1 innings pitched. He also set an Express single-season record with 92 strikeouts in his ten games started with the club.