| Page 2 of 2 < |
Zimmerman's Virginia Competitor
Ryan Zimmerman, right, is congratulated by Austin Kearns after hitting a home run in the Nationals' 9-6 exhibition victory. Zimmerman and the Mets' David Wright, both third basemen, grew up in the Tidewater area.
(By Julie Jacobson -- Associated Press)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
As the two stood and chatted at third base Monday, that seemed unlikely. Zimmerman has filled out, a robust 6 feet 3 and nearly 220 pounds. Wright is three inches shorter, at least 20 pounds lighter.
"There were a couple of years where we kind of lost contact, when I was in the minors and he was in college," Wright said, "and then I saw him in his sophomore year at the University of Virginia, and it was unbelievable. He was a totally different kid. He matured."
Now, they are trying to mature together. In offseasons past, they worked out at the same Chesapeake gym, often training with yet another major leaguer from the area, the Twins' Michael Cuddyer, as well as both Upton and his younger brother, Justin, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft. Last offseason, Zimmerman spent a good deal of his time training in Chesapeake, but Wright was in New York most of the time, where his six-year, $55 million contract -- signed last August -- allowed him to buy a place.
But when they do get together, it matters.
"We all want to try and outplay each other and one-up each other," Wright said. "It's fun, because I think it pushes us. He sees me lift a certain weight, and Zimm's going to try to do that much more. I see him do something, I'm going to try to outdo it."
Thus far, Wright has a slight edge. His first full year in the majors, following a 69-game debut in 2004, he hit .306 with 42 doubles, 27 homers and 102 RBI. He followed it up by hitting .311 with 40 doubles, 26 homers and 116 RBI last year.
"I think he's progressed every year little by little," Zimmerman said. "That's the goal, to get a little better. He's done it offensively and defensively. The numbers he's had, I don't think I'd be disappointed."
Zimmerman hit .287 with 47 doubles, 20 homers and 110 RBI as a rookie last season. He has pledged to cut down on his 120 strikeouts and to draw more than 61 walks.
If he does, he just might catch up to Wright's batting average and approach his career on-base percentage of .375.
Either way, when they're not chit-chatting at third base -- one arriving after a double, the other playing defense -- they will pull for each other. Last season, when Zimmerman hit a game-winning homer against the New York Yankees, Wright shot Zimmerman a text message as soon as he saw the highlight.
"As cheesy as it sounds," Wright said, "you're proud of each other."
