Nats 3B Ryan Zimmerman earns second consecutive Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award

Washington Third Bagger is One of Five to Win Award for Second Consecutive Season Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman tonight was named the recipient of the 2010 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger for National League third basemen. The Silver Slugger citation is the second of Zimmerman's career. He earned his initial Silver Slugger last season. Zimmerman recorded arguably his finest offensive campaign in 2010, hitting a career-best .307 (161-for-525) with 32 doubles, 25 home runs, 85 RBI and 69 walks in 142 games. In addition to hitting .300-plus for the first time, Zimmerman also established career highs in on-base percentage (.388) and OPS (.899), a metric which combines on-base and slugging percentages. The first qualified Washington National (2005-present) to hit .300 or better against both left- (.331) and right-handed (.300) pitching in the same season, Zimmerman is one of five 2009 Silver Slugger recipients to again garner the Silver Slugger citation in 2010. He is joined on this list by Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, Braves catcher Brian McCann and Twins catcher Joe Mauer. The 26 year-old Zimmerman ranked among NL leaders in batting average against left-handed hitters (seventh, .331), game-winning RBI (tied seventh, 14), OBP (eighth), OPS (eighth, .899), batting average (eighth), runs created/27 (ninth, 6.75), batting average with runners on base (ninth, .335), slugging percentage (10th, .511), batting average at home (10th, .317) and go-ahead RBI (tied 10th, 26). Zimmerman's Silver Slugger citation is also the third in the six-year history of the Washington National (2005-present). Alfonso Soriano was awarded a Silver Slugger after hitting .277 with 41 doubles, 46 home runs, 95 RBI and 41 stolen bases in 2006, his lone campaign with the Nationals, before Zimmerman was first recognized by Louisville Slugger in 2009. In June of 2005, Zimmerman was the first draft selection in the history of the Washington Nationals.