Ryan Zimmerman

2013

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2012

Zimmerman only amassed 440 plate appearances because of an abdominal strain suffered in April. Obviously his home-run total was down because of time missed, but his overall power numbers suffered in 2011. His .154 ISO and 10.9 percent HR/FB ratio were the lowest of his career, and his numbers suffered from a 50.5 percent groundball rate, also a career high. Still an above average third baseman (with some throwing problems), expect his numbers in 2012 to more closely resemble his 2010 campaign now that he's healthy again.

2011

Nagging injuries cost him a few games, but Zimmerman kept building on his skill set, as he inched his walk rate up a notch and set a career high in OBP. He's the cornerstone position player of the franchise, an asset both with his bat and with his glove, and swapping Adam Dunn out for Jayson Werth shouldn't hurt his counting stats. Zimmerman is a keeper, in every sense of the word.

2010

Zimmerman took a major step forward in 2009, breaking the 30-homer mark for the first time while posting new career highs in OBP and SLG thanks to a massive .350/.442/.670 August. He won't turn 26 until the end of the season so there's still some room to grow in those offensive numbers, especially if the Nationals keep upgrading the roster around him and providing him with more RBI opportunities. One more season like 2009 and Zimmerman will actually deserve the franchise player tag the organization has been trying to hang around his neck since they drafted him.

2009

Zimmerman faced adversity for the time in his major league career, suffering through a slight labrum tear in his shoulder that rendered him ineffective at the plate. He bounced back after taking a month off for rehab, however, hitting .320/.367/.420 in August and .290/.347/.516 in September. An offseason of rest should have him fully back at 100 percent, and he should return to his usual level of production, or even higher if his power improves due to the exercise regimen he needs to strengthen his shoulder.

2008

Aside from a few misplaced singles, Zimmerman's numbers were nearly identical to his rookie campaign, but he's still only 23 and his development can hardly be said to have leveled off yet. Moving out of RFK Stadium should help his numbers too, as Zimmerman's power tends to be in the gaps more so than down the line. His defense remains exemplary, and his offseason wrist injury shouldn't be a problem once spring training begins. The Nationals have some problems, but third base isn't going to be one of them for a long time.

2007

Zimmerman's rookie campaign was a thing of beauty, as he played Gold Glove-caliber defense while moving smoothly into the clean-up spot in the batting order and breaking the 100 RBI mark. Only 22, he's already emerged as the face of the Nationals franchise, and if it weren't for David Wright and Miguel Cabrera it would be very easy to envision a string of All Star game starts stretching long into Zimmerman's future. As it is, the in-division rivalry between the three has the chance to become legendary, making third base in the N.L. East in the 2000s what center field was in New York in the 1950s. If that makes Zimmerman "only" the Duke Snider in that competition, it's doubtful anyone in Washington will complain.

2006

Zimmerman couldn't have had a better pro debut if he'd had Barry Levinson directing it. The Nationals' first ever draft pick, he proceeded to tear through the minors en route to a .397/.419/.569 September in Washington. Now firmly entrenched as the team's third baseman of the present and future, he may not hit quite well enough to join the likes of David Wright, Miguel Cabrera and Scott Rolen among the elite NL fantasy third basemen, but Nats fans should be more than happy with their 21st century version of Brooks Robinson.