The Washington Nationals wrapped up their first ever World Series title October 30, winning game seven versus the Houston Astros. They were helped by Mr. National himself, former 2003 Peninsula Pilot Ryan Zimmerman.

Zimmerman was the Nationals first ever draft pick after the team moved from Montreal to Washington in 2005 as they selected him fourth overall in the first round of the MLB Draft. He was named an MLB All-Star in 2009 and 2017, won a Gold Glove in 2009 and earned the Silver Slugger award in 2009 and 2010.

The Virginia native spent his 2003 summer with the Peninsula Pilots. He batted a team-best .331 with 47 hits, including eight doubles, a triple and a homer. He also finished with 19 RBIs, 12 runs scored, 60 total bases and 16 walks. Zimmerman’s number in hits, total bases and slugging percentage (.423) were also all Pilots team-highs that season. He was later named to the North CPL All-Star team, where he went 1-for-2. In 2006, the Coastal Plain League honored Zimmerman as a member of its All-Decade Team.

While not a part of the Nationals postseason roster, former High Point-Thomasville HiTom Aaron Barrett also contributed to the Nationals 2019 regular season and thus will be receiving his first World Series ring. Barrett played for the HiToms in 2009 where he was one of the league’s best pitchers all summer notching an impressive 2.21 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings pitched.

About Coastal Plain League:

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 24th season in 2020, the CPL features 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,600 alumni drafted and 131 alums – including 2017 ALCS MVP, 2017 World Series champion, 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander, as well as 2017 NLCS MVP Chris Taylor – make their Major League debut. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball.