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AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Sign St. Thomas Standout Pitcher Ryan Zimmerman

June 2, 2018 - American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN - The three straight extra-inning games in Grand Prairie left the pitching staff gassed. Needing a fresh arm, the Saints turned to one of the local powerhouse colleges in the area, the St. Thomas Tommies, and signed right-handed pitcher Ryan Zimmerman. He will make his professional debut on Saturday night starting on the road against the Cleburne Railroaders.

Zimmerman finished his senior season with the Tommies this year, going 6-3 with a 3.36 ERA and two complete games in 10 games (nine starts). In 56.1 innings he walked 28 and struck out 75 while opponents hit a miniscule .182 against him. Zimmerman finished first in the MIAC in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings (11.98), tied for third in wins and sixth in innings pitched. He went at least 6.0 innings in six of nine starts and tossed a 9.0 inning complete game in his final start of the season against Gustavus Adolphus. He allowed five runs on five hits. His two best outings were both 7.0 inning stints. The first on March 26 vs. Grinell where he allowed one run on three hits while striking out 12. On April 20 vs. Concordia-Moorhead he didn't allow a run on one hit while walking one and striking out seven. He struck out at least six in eight of nine starts, including double-digits three times. He fanned a career high 13 on April 25 vs. Hamline.

In high school Zimmerman partially tore his labrum during his junior year. After pitching out of relief his first two years with the Tommies he jumped into the starting role as a junior. The waiting paid off as he was a third-team D3Baseball All-Region honoree and All-MIAC during his junior season going 5-4 with a 2.77 ERA with six complete games and one save in 13 games (11 starts). In 78.0 innings pitched he walked 23, struck out 87 and opponents hit .226 against him. He went at least 6.0 innings in eight of 11 starts and struck out at least six, nine times, including double-digits twice. Zimmerman stepped up in the post-season as well tossing two complete games, including a 7-2 win over No. 2-ranked UW-Whitewater.

In 43 career pitching appearances, Zimmerman had a 3.04 ERA and a 16-8 record, with one save, eight complete games, 203 strikeouts, 74 walks in 181 innings.

Zimmerman pitched two seasons in the summer wood-bat Northwoods League. In 2017 he won five games and made 11 starts for Eau Claire, with 59 strikeouts in 57 innings. In 2016, he went 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in eight appearances with the Express, with 33 strikeouts and 18 walks in 38 innings.

In order to make room for Zimmerman the Saints released outfielder Jimmy Heck. The rookie was 0-2 on the season.

The Saints roster stands at 22, 11 pitchers and 11 position players.

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