Bruce Anthony Zimmermann (born February 9, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles.

Bruce Zimmermann
Milwaukee Brewers
Pitcher
Born: (1995-02-09) February 9, 1995 (age 29)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
September 17, 2020, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record8–10
Earned run average5.57
Strikeouts126
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Amateur career

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Zimmermann graduated from Loyola Blakefield in 2013.[1] Undrafted out of high school in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Towson University to play college baseball. He transferred to the University of Mount Olive after his sophomore year. In 2017, as a senior at Mount Olive, he was 9–2 with a 3.18 ERA in 15 starts, striking out 129 batters in 99 innings.[2]

Professional career

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Atlanta Braves

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After Zimmermann's senior year, he was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He signed for $10,000,[4] and was assigned to the Danville Braves, where he was 0–1 with a 3.09 ERA in 11 starts.[5] He began 2018 with the Rome Braves, with whom he was named a South Atlantic League All-Star,[6] before being promoted to the Mississippi Braves in June.[7]

Baltimore Orioles

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On July 31, 2018, Zimmermann, Jean Carlos Encarnacion, Brett Cumberland, Evan Phillips and international signing money were traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day.[8] He was assigned to the Double-A Bowie Baysox and finished the season there. In 25 starts between Rome, Mississippi, and Bowie, he compiled an 11–7 record with a 3.21 ERA.[9] He returned to Bowie to begin 2019[10] before being promoted to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in July.[11][12] Over 25 games (24 starts) between the two clubs, Zimmermann pitched to a 7–6 record with a 3.21 ERA, striking out 134 over 140 innings.[13]

His addition to the Orioles' 60-player Alternate Training Site pool was delayed to August 2020 due to his recovery from COVID-19. Hours after he was added to the team's 40-man roster when his contract was selected by the Orioles, Zimmermann pitched three innings as the starting pitcher in his MLB debut in a 10–6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in the second game of a two-night doubleheader at Camden Yards on September 17, 2020.[14] Zimmermann gave up six earned runs over seven innings pitched in his debut season in 2020.[15]

On August 15, 2021, Zimmermann was placed on the 60-day injured list. Zimmermann had been nearing a return to the team from biceps tendinitis but suffered a sprained right ankle.[16] He was activated from the injured list on September 28. On the season, he went 4-5 with a 5.04 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 64 13 innings pitched across 14 games (13 starts).

In 2022, Zimmermann made 15 appearances (13 starts) for Baltimore. In 73 23 innings pitched, he recorded a 2-5 record with a 5.99 ERA and 49 strikeouts. On June 16, 2022, he was optioned to Norfolk after allowing six runs in 4 23 innings pitched against the Toronto Blue Jays.[17]

Zimmermann was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to begin the 2023 season.[18] On June 13, 2023, while pitching for Norfolk, Zimmermann tossed a complete–game shutout against the Worcester Red Sox.[19] He pitched in just seven games for Baltimore, logging a 4.73 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 13 13 innings of work. Following the season on October 19, Zimmermann underwent core muscle surgery.[20]

Zimmermann was optioned to Triple–A Norfolk to begin the 2024 season.[21] In 18 games (14 starts) for Norfolk, he compiled a 3–4 record and 4.64 ERA with 60 strikeouts across 66 innings. Zimmermann was designated for assignment on August 22, 2024.[22] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Norfolk on August 24.[23] Zimmermann elected free agency following the season on November 4.[24]

Milwaukee Brewers

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On December 19, 2024, Zimmermann signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "BRUCE ZIMMERMANN '13 FINDS SUCCESS IN COLLEGE BASEBALL". Loyola Blakefield. May 15, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "13 Trojans Continue Careers In The Pros - Mount Olive". Umotrojans.com. June 30, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  3. ^ Tow, Seth (June 15, 2017). "MLB Draft Day Two: Orioles add more pitching; four local products selected". BaltimoreBaseball.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ^ By: Tommy Poe (May 19, 2018). "Bruce Zimmermann Shocking Everyone". Walk-Off Walk. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "Bruce Zimmermann Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "South Atlantic League Announces 2018 All-Star Rosters".
  7. ^ "LHP Bruce ZImmermann promoted to M-Braves from Low-A Rome". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  8. ^ Bowman, Mark (May 24, 2018). "Kevin Gausman, Darren O'Day traded to Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "Bruce Zimmermann Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  10. ^ Meoli, Jon (March 29, 2019). "Orioles' minor league rosters feature new assignments for top prospects Ryan Mountcastle, DL Hall". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Meoli, Jon (August 6, 2019). "Struggles of Kevin Gausman, Brad Brach after trades to Braves paint Orioles' haul in a different light". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Meoli, Jon (July 29, 2019). "Orioles reset: Top trade candidates performing well as deadline nears". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  13. ^ "Home".
  14. ^ Trezza, Joe. "A 'surreal' day: Hometown kid debuts for O's," MLB.com, Friday, September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020
  15. ^ "Bruce Zimmermann Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  16. ^ "Orioles' Bruce Zimmermann: Moves to 60-day IL".
  17. ^ "Orioles' Bruce Zimmermann: Dropped from rotation and demoted". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  18. ^ "Orioles' Bruce Zimmermann: Sent down to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "Zimmermann Tosses Complete Game Shutout". milb.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Orioles' Bruce Zimmermann: Undergoes core muscle surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  21. ^ "Orioles' Bruce Zimmermann: Sent packing to Triple-A". cbssports.com. March 19, 2024.
  22. ^ "Orioles send struggling lefty starter Trevor Rogers to minors". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  23. ^ "Orioles Outright Bruce Zimmermann". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  24. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  25. ^ "Brewers, Bruce Zimmermann Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
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