Eau Claire, WI- Former Express star pitcher Jordan Zimmermann has agreed to a 5 year $110 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. The contract includes bonus opportunities based on performance as Zimmermann can earn $500,000 for winning the AL Cy Young Award, $200,000 for finishing second and $100,000 for third. Some other incentives include earning $100,000 for being named an All-Star and $100,000 for winning a Gold Glove. The 29-year-old can also receive $200,000 if he is crowned the World Series MVP and $150,000 if he is League Championship Series MVP.
The five-year contract is slightly back loaded as he will earn $18 million in each of the next two seasons, $24 million in 2018 and $25 million in each of the final two years. Zimmermann has a full-no trade clause that runs through 2018, but he can be traded to 10 teams without his permission the last two years of his deal.
The native of Auburndale, WI started 33 games for the Washington Nationals during 2015 and pitched 201.2 innings. He finished the season with a record of 13-10 and an earned run average of 3.66, while striking out 164 batters and a WHIP of 1.20. Zimmermann has spent his entire career with the Washington Nationals since being drafted by them in the second round of the 2007 draft.
Zimmermann was a two time National League All Star (2013 and 2014) while pitching for the Nationals. He led the National League in wins during the 2013 season with 19. On September 28th, 2014 Zimmermann pitched the game of his life and threw a no hit shutout again the Miami Marlins. He has a career record of 70-50 with a 3.32 ERA.
Before making it to the major leagues, Zimmermann was a standout collegiate baseball player at UW-Stevens Point. He went undefeated his senior season and led the team to the Division III World Series. Zimmermann pitched for the Express in 2006. He finished the season with a record of 4-2 with a 1.01 earned run average. He pitched in 11 games and struck out 92 batters in 80.2 innings pitched. Zimmermann still holds the Eau Claire Express single season records for both innings pitched (80.2) and strikeouts (92). Dale Varsho, the Director of Operations and Field Manager for the Express coached Jordan in both legion baseball and while he played for the Express in 2006. Varsho praised Zimmermann saying “Jordan was always a coachable kid and a great competitor on the baseball field. He was a good teammate and an overall fun guy to be around.”
The entire Eau Claire Express organization wishes Jordan the best of luck with the Detroit Tigers!
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The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (KC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com