Small hometown proud of Zimmermann

Jordan Zimmermann, P, Nationals
Hometown: Auburndale, Wis.

When people call Jordan Zimmermann "the pride of Auburndale, Wis.," it's not necessarily because others from the town have never done anything notable. There just isn't a lot of competition.

The 2010 Census -- taken three years after the Nationals drafted Zimmermann in the second round out of Division 3 University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point -- pegged Auburndale's population at 860. Most, if not all, of the 313 households know Zimmermann in this everybody-knows-everybody kind of town.

Zimmermann was a three-sport athlete at Auburndale High, reaching the state tournament with the basketball team in addition to pulling double duty as a wide receiver and safety in the fall. He started his AHS baseball career as a catcher before coach Mark Brost moved him to the mound.

Before Zimmermann's senior season, Brost wrote to all 30 Major League teams telling them about this right-hander with a considerable ceiling. He received little response. Zimmermann walked on at nearby UWSP. He focused on solely baseball, and scouts started to notice.