Even though he left college one year shy of graduating, The Education of Ryan Zimmerman is only beginning.
The first chapter was written last Thursday in Atlanta when the former Virginia baseball star went down looking in his first Major League game.
But when Zimmerman suited up for his first home game in Washington Friday night, he banged out the first hit of his Major League career in a 7-1 loss to Wild Card-leading Philadelphia.
Replacing starting third baseman Vinny Castilla in top of the 4th inning, Zimmerman jogged onto the field amidst a chorus of cheers from the 28,939-person crowd. They didn't have to wait long to see what all the hype was all about.
With Jimmy Rollins at the plate, Zimmerman touched off the front end of a nice 5-4-3 double play to end the top of the 5th inning. He appeared as natural as a 10-year veteran on the play, fielding the ball cleanly and making an all-arm, across the body throw to Jamey Carroll at second base.
Zimmerman led off the next half inning. In his first home at-bat, he drilled a 1-0 pitch from Phillies starter Vicente Padilla to the warning track in left-center field, pulling in with a standup double. Zimmerman coasted easily into second base, breathing a heavy sigh of relief that he had finally made it.
For his family and friends in attendance, the Nationals' loss was not enough to dampen the sense of celebration. But for Washington manager Frank Robinson, Zimmerman's debut alone was nothing to cheer about.
"You're asking me to judge someone on one ground ball and three at bats," Robinson said. "I have bigger problems to think about right now than to talk about Ryan. He'll get his accolades later on
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