Jackson, MS is closer to St. Louis and my daughter will soon be near Memphis.
So I'm hoping to see him pitch for the Mississippi Braves some day too!!!

On the cover of MiLB magazine:



Rome's Zimmermann twirls seven zeros
Braves lefty allows two hits, rehabbing Swanson singles twice

Rome's Bruce Zimmermann has a 2.38 ERA and 0.93 WHIP through his first eight starts this season. (Tom Priddy/AP)

By Michael Avallone / MiLB.com | May 17, 2018 11:00 PM ET

With an abundance of top pitching prospects in the Braves system, it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle. That doesn't appear to be an issue for Bruce Zimmermann, who is off to a blistering start in his first full season as a professional.

The Atlanta southpaw allowed two hits and struck out nine over a career-high seven innings as Class A Rome blanked Asheville, 1-0, on Thursday night at State Mutual Stadium. The victory snapped a three-start winless streak for Zimmermann (4-2), who leads the South Atlantic League with 57 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings, an average of 11.3 per nine.

Despite those gaudy numbers, the 23-year-old is not out there trying to rack up the K's.

Video: Bruce Zimmermann strikes out ninth

"It's something that's been happening," Zimmermann said. "I don't go out there trying to strike guys out. If I did that, it would take away from my gameplan and probably cause me to be too fine. If the situation presents itself, then it's an obvious benefit to be able to get the strikeout rather than having them put the ball in play. But I'm out there trying to get guys out in four pitches or less."

Rome pitching coach Dan Meyer has been nothing short of thrilled with what he's seen from his hurler so far in 2018.

"Bruce has done a tremendous job so far," Meyer said. "He's so adept at changing speeds and isn't afraid to pitch inside with his fastball to both righties and lefties. He's got a plus change and a quality slider which makes it tough for hitters to square up on. He's been working ahead often and finishing and that's why you saw him get through seven on [80] pitches."

Gameday box score

Coming off his second double-digit strikeout game of the season, Zimmermann set down the first 10 Asheville hitters he faced. Casey Golden singled with two outs in the fourth inning and moved to second on a wild pitch before stealing third. He was stranded when Sean Bouchard was called out on strikes. Zimmermann retired the Tourists in order in the fifth and sixth, and took the mound for the seventh with a lead after being locked in a scoreless duel with Antonio Santos through six frames.

He allowed a leadoff single to Bret Boswell, who took second on his second wild pitch of the game. Bouchard earned the only walk against Zimmermann, which put runners at first and second, but Chad Spanberger grounded into an inning-ending double play on his 80th and final pitch of the game. The outing lowered his ERA to 2.38 and his opponents' batting average to .207.

"It was great to get through seven," the Baltimore native said. "[The pitchers] were on a restriction earlier this year and now we've got the green light to go deeper, so the seventh has been on my mind. In that situation [in the seventh], I was looking to get a ground ball to get us back in the dugout as quickly as possible and I knew the defense would have my back."

Atlanta's fifth-round pick in last year's Draft has emerged as yet another quality hurler in a system that is bursting with pitching. Even in an organization filled with top-ranked prospects like Kyle Wright, Mike Soroka and Kolby Allard, Zimmermann has caught the eye of Meyer.

MiLB include

"All of the guys who come through here are well aware of those who came before them," the former Major Leaguer said. "It's a great testament to our drafting. These guys come in and no matter what age, they're ready to pitch and compete. They're coachable and their makeup is through the roof. It makes my job much, much easier."

Brandon S. White struck out three over two perfect innings to collect his sixth save. Jean Carlos Encarnacion produced the only run on either side with a solo homer in the sixth.

Rehabbing a wrist injury that landed him on the disabled list, Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson led off and collected two hits in the win.

"It was awesome to have him playing with us," Zimmermann said. "To see a big leaguer come in here and go about his business, you can learn from that. You take pointers on his work ethic and how he goes about things. But it was great having him back there at short and a lot of fun to play on the same field with him tonight."

Santos (0-5) scattered eight hits and allowed one run on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts over a season-high seven innings.

https://www.milb.com/milb/news...e-braves/c-277175668

Left handers that can throw strikes can have very long major league careers.

Fifth round means they think pretty highly of him. They have a lot of young pitching though.

Been a Braves fan since I was a kid. If I had a nephew in their org., I’d be thrilled. I’ll be pulling for Bruce.

quote:

Been a Braves fan since I was a kid. If I had a nephew in their org., I’d be thrilled. I’ll be pulling for Bruce.

That's cool! Thanks, Baron Flynt.

I hope he has a long healthy career in the big time.

My girlfriend (of 26 years) lived next door to a pretty good pitcher Ben McDonald her brother lives across the road from him.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
One of my favorite overnights is Jackson, MS, where I can walk across the street from the hotel in Pearl and watch the Mississippi Braves. Dang good CHEAP entertainment!!!

Congrats to your nephew. Is that AAA ball?

Ever in Pensacola stop by and see the wahoos. They got smoked by the Mississippi Braves last time at home. Great stadium with some great food and nightlife all around it.

Bruce Zimmermann Shocking Everyone



https://walkoffwalk.net/2018/0...n-shocking-everyone/

quote:

Originally posted by Baron Flynt:
Left handers that can throw strikes can have very long major league careers.

Sure do!

After their days as a starter are over, they become bullpen specialists.

Jesse Orosco comes to mind:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Orosco

I can't even begin to imagine how proud you are, chellim...I'm so happy for you and your family!! It looks like one of my great nephews (not yet 6) might be a lefty. My brother (his grandpa) is hoping to steer him toward baseball, and more specifically, pitching. My dad and brother were both VERY good at baseball...I was just OK.

Bruce was moved up to Double A and pitched last night in Pensacola against the Blue Wahoos.

Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap 6/29: Bruce Zimmermann K’s 10

It’s hard to imagine the Double A debut of Bruce Zimmermann going much better than what he did on Friday night.
https://www.talkingchop.com/20...uce-zimmermann-ks-10



Mississippi Braves News
Blue Wahoos spoil Zimmermann's stellar debut with 3-2 walk-off win
Bruce Zimmermann struck out 10 over 6.1 innings in his Double-A debut
https://www.milb.com/mississip...-off-win/c-283588614

Pirates fans since 1970, so I can't really say that I root for the Braves (thanks to Frankie Cabrera and the traitor Sid Bream )

But it is really cool what your nephew has accomplished and what hopefully is yet to come to a very talented individual.

Congrats!

Awww SWEET, chellim!!! I'll have to look for him if I have an overnight in Pearl and they have a home game. This if friggin' AWESOME!!!

Lefty with a 92 mph fastball, a decent curve, and a good change. The Braves stole him. Hope he gets a big check down the road. Best of luck to him.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
Awww SWEET, chellim!!! I'll have to look for him if I have an overnight in Pearl and they have a home game. This if friggin' AWESOME!!!

Thanks, erj_pilot. I hope you do!

Since I'm not up on all the pilot lingo I had to look up what you meant by "an overnight in Pearl"
Pearl is situated adjacent to the Jackson-Evers International Airport.

Your research is correct. And LITERALLY right across the street from the Holiday Inn in Pearl (where we stay for the overnight), is the baseball stadium. Pearl/Jackson is one of my favorite overnights now, just due to the opportunity to catch a game across the street from the hotel when the Mississippi Braves are in town.

This is OUTSTANDING!!! Short season A to Double A in a single season, and everyone noticing and commenting favorably.

A few years ago I had the distinct pleasure to drive the Spokane Indian ball club (Short A) to their away games, and it was more fun than should be allowed by law!

To get a chance to interact with outstanding young men, who at that stage weren't stuck on themselves, doing the absolute best they can for a shot to move up, was priceless to me. The coaches were fun, and the food was exceptional, even at the Single A level.

Here's to continued success for your nephew!!!
Don

Your Braves prospect of the week is Bruce Zimmermann!

The Braves have undergone a full rebuild, giving them possibly the best farm system in all of baseball. Players like Ronald Acuna Jr., Mike Soroka and Kolby Allard headline the long list of Braves prospects who are considered elite. However, the Braves farm system is not just the best because of the elite names at the top, it also has the depth that should allow this team to continue to get better for years to come.

One of those guys is Bruce Zimmermann. Most of these aforementioned studs have been in the Braves system since they were teenagers. Zimmermann is not one of those guys, as he was selected in the fifth-round of the 2017 MLB draft out of the University of Mount Olive, a small school of just over 3,000 undergraduates, in North Carolina.

Like his college of choice, there was nothing particularly sexy about Zimmermann’s pitching style. He does not possess a high 90s fastball like many pitchers today. Instead he throws in the low 90s with a three-pitch arsenal including a curveball and a changeup. But as baseball has shown us time and time again, it is not always the fireballers that make it to the major league level. All, even average, major league pitchers need to have pinpoint control, and that is what Zimmermann has showcased early on in the minors.

As a Rome Brave, Zimmermann posted a 7-3 record with a 2.86 ERA this season. What is even more impressive is he is averaging over a strikeout per inning, totaling at 99 on the season compared to just 18 walks. He is among the leaders in strikeouts in minor league baseball. His stellar first half with Rome resulted in him getting the call to Mississippi on June 28th. The change in competition did not seem to affect him much either. In his first start, he went 6.1 innings allowing just a single earned run while striking out ten.

With the Braves having a stable of blue-chip pitching prospects, it might be a long shot for Zimmermann to occupy a starting spot in the Braves rotation. It could be more likely that he transitions into a relief role as he continues to climb the ranks. However, as an older prospect, it is not out of the question that he rockets through the minor league levels rather quickly. It is this kind of depth that makes the Braves farm system the envy of baseball. Zimmermann is definitely a prospect to keep your eye on going forward.

https://www.sportstalkatl.com/...is-bruce-zimmermann/

Glad they are moving him up quickly. No offense intended, but as a 23-year old, he should cruise right through A ball based on experience and makeup, which he did.

Another article about him on the homepage of talkingchop.com. https://www.talkingchop.com/20...ect-bruce-zimmermann

Thanks for posting, PowerSurge. My bro-in-law sent that to me this morning but I hadn't had the chance to post it here. It's starting to get interesting for Bruce.