Jordan Zimmermann retires after 13 seasons
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann retired Tuesday, the team announced.
"After 15 years of playing ball, my mind was still in it but my body wasn't," Zimmermann said, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.
Zimmermann was set to retire last month before the Brewers called him up on April 29.
The 35-year-old Wisconsin native made two appearances for his home-state Brewers, posting a 7.94 ERA and 6.99 FIP in 5 2/3 innings.
Zimmermann said the transition to the bullpen didn't suit him. Had he continued, he saw an IL stint in his not-too-distant future.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 11, 2021
Some pitchers need that routine of starting, and Zimmermann found he was one of them.
Zimmermann's career appeared to be over before he signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers in February. He was released then re-signed by Milwaukee at the end of March.
His best years came with the Washington Nationals, where he was a two-time All-Star, threw a no-hitter, and received Cy Young consideration in 2013 and 2014. Overall, he won 70 games and owned a 3.32 ERA in 178 starts for the Nats.
Zimmermann turned his success in Washington into a five-year, $110-million deal with the Detroit Tigers before the 2016 season. He pitched to a 25-41 record with a 5.63 ERA for the Tigers.
Jordan Zimmermann tears up after talking about his highs in Washington to the lows in Detroit, and we're taking a break in his Zoom. "I wish I could have stayed healthy. I wish I could have gave more. The body just wasn't holding up."
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) May 11, 2021