Popular, productive Ryan Zimmerman retires, set many Nats marks

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Longtime Washington Nationals star Ryan Zimmerman announced his retirement Tuesday, ending a decorated career in which he became the franchise leader in many major categories and boosted the team to its only World Series championship.

Now 37, Zimmerman made it official in a public letter addressed to "Dear D.C."

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"When we first met I was a 20-year-old kid fresh out of the University of Virginia," he wrote. "I had no idea how unbelievable the next 17 years of my life were going to be."

Zimmerman was the first player drafted by the Nationals, picked fourth overall in June 2005 during their first season after moving from Montreal to Washington. He made his major league debut that September and hit .397 in 20 games, giving a glimpse of what was to come.

"Ryan will forever be Mr. National. From the walk-off home runs, to carrying the World Series trophy down Constitution Avenue, to the final day of the 2021 regular season when our fans gave him an ovation that none of us will soon forget, Ryan gave us all 17 years of amazing memories," team owner Mark Lerner said in a statement.

Washington Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Popular and productive, Zimmerman spent his entire career with Washington. He was a two-time All-Star, won a Gold Glove at third base and helped the Nationals reach the postseason five times, capped by their run to the 2019 title.

In the NL wild-card game that