Zimmerman to receive Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

As I type this, Ryan Zimmerman just reached a career milestone. With a single in the fifth inning in Colorado on Tuesday night, the Nats third baseman collected his 1,000th-career hit, needing only 903 games in which to do so. It's a great accomplishment, particularly for a guy who has battled some nagging injuries in recent memory. And while Zimmerman continues to achieve greatness on the field, it stands to reason things would be the same off the diamond. That certainly rings true, as it was announced earlier this week that Zimmerman will be presented with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. This annual award is given to the MLB player who best exemplifies the philanthropic character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig off the field as well as his prowess on the field. The Phi Delta Theta Fraternity will present Zimmerman with the award during the on-field pregame ceremonies before the Nationals play the Colorado Rockies on Friday, July 6. Zimmerman joins a distinguished group of Lou Gehrig Memorial Award recipients, including Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter and 22 Hall of Famers. His commitment to the community is best illustrated through his work with the ziMS Foundation, which aims to raise funds for multiple sclerosis awareness and programs that benefit those afflicted with MS. Zimmerman's community outreach extends beyond his work with the ziMS Foundation, as he visits local children's hospitals several times each season and takes part in various other charitable initiatives. On the field, Zimmerman is in the midst of his eighth season in the big leagues, all with the Nationals. In addition to the 1,000 hits, the third baseman has tallied 131 home runs, a lifetime .284 batting average, a pair of Silver Slugger awards and a Gold Glove award in 2009. After so many achievements on the field, Zimmerman's got the hardware to show for it. On Friday, he'll get some recognition for his off-the-field efforts.