Quick Notes: [Photos] Ryan Zimmerman Day at the University of Virginia

Over the weekend, the University of Virginia officially retired Ryan Zimmerman's number 11. The record crowd of 5,919 started to line up outside the stadium hours before the first pitch to witness the ceremony.

Richard Wachtel

May 03, 2022 - 1 min read

“It brought chills to me, especially when Zim was out there,” said sophomore third baseman Jake Gelof to Jeff White from VirginiaSports.com, whose 17^th home run of the season put Virginia ahead 1-0 in the fourth inning. “It was definitely a special moment for UVA fans, the players here and obviously the coaches as well."

From the VirginiaSports.com, article: "In an emotional ceremony before the game, UVA head coach Brian O’Connor, associate head coach Kevin McMullan and former Cavalier head coach Dennis Womack joined the Zimmerman crew—Ryan, his wife, Heather, their four children, and his parents—on the field. In a video message, Governor Glenn Youngkin proclaimed it Ryan Zimmerman Day in Virginia, and Zimmerman later took the microphone to address the crowd."

“Charlottesville is a special place to me... The three years I was here I grew as a baseball player, but I think obviously I grew as a person too," said Ryan Zimmerman during the on-field ceremony.

During the ceremony, UVA announced that the third-base bag at Disharoon Park will bear Zimmerman’s name, his signature, and a commemorative logo. Ryan Zimmerman threw the first pitch while holding his son Henry.

Zimmerman retired last year from Major League Baseball after a career with the Washington Nationals, who drafted him with the first pick in franchise history.