Ryan Zimmerman has walked off one last time, announcing his retirement from baseball after a 17-year career with the Nationals.
That's a long time to spend doing any one thing, much less playing a sport with a single team. As you can imagine, that left a lot for Zimmerman to reflect upon. And this is how those thoughts fleshed out, in his own words:
"Dear D.C.
When we first met, I was a 20-year-old kid fresh out of the University of Virginia -- the very first player ever selected by the newly created Washington Nationals in the 2005 draft. I had no idea how unbelievable the next 17 years of my life were going to be.
We have won together, lost together and, honestly, grown up together. We lost 100 games (twice), we won 90 games (four times), we moved into a new stadium, we failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs (four grueling times) and, of course, we experienced the magical World Series run of 2019 that no one will ever forget. Through all of the achievements and the failures you always supported me, and for that I will forever be grateful.
To the Lerner family, Mike Rizzo and the entire Washington Nationals organization: Thank you for believing in me and standing by me even when it wasn't convenient. To play on one team for 17 years takes many sacrifices from both sides. I appreciate all that you did for me and my family, and I can't wait to be involved – in many ways – moving forward.
To all my managers and coaches throughout my career: Each and every one of you taught me something different about the game and life that made me the player and person I am today. Your humble sacrifices and time commitments to the players are a big reason why baseball is the best game in the world. You may not always get the recognition you deserve, but the players know your value.
To all the trainers, strength coaches and medical staff: Simply put, there is no chance I would be writing this letter without each and every one of you. It was truly a team effort to keep me on the field some days. The amount of time and energy you committed to my career will never be forgotten. Thank you so much!
To all of my teammates: You guys are what I will miss the most about the game of baseball. Having the opportunity to get to know so many different people from all over the country and the world has shaped who I am as a person, and I will use that for the rest of my life. The team dinners, the cross-country flights, the team parties and so many other activities — I will never forget. To the veteran guys that taught me the right way to do things from the beginning, thank you! I was able to pass along those lessons to the youngest guys I played with to try to leave the game better than when I arrived, just like you challenged me to do. It was an honor to be a part of the special brotherhood that is Major League Baseball. To have the opportunity to compete at such a high level was a privilege and I can honestly say I didn't take for granted one single day.
To the CAA sports team (Brodie, Jeff, Tom, Sean, Jennifer, Matt, Ed and many more): Thanks for your advice and guidance throughout my entire career. You provided me and my family with the best information to make strategic and impactful business decisions both on and off the field. I am incredibly grateful for your expertise, and the countless hours of work helped mold my career in more ways then you will ever know. I can't wait to see what we do next."
To my unbelievable family: Thank you for always being there to support me, through everything. Thank you, Mom, for showing me what true courage and strength looks like. Thank you, Dad, for being such a great role model and always allowing me to lean on you for advice. Thank you, Shawn, for teaching me how to compete and for always pushing me to be the best version of me.
To my beautiful wife, Heather: Thank you for sacrificing so much to allow me to play the game that I love. Your energy and positive attitude on a daily basis, no matter what was going on, is the most incredible thing I have ever seen. It challenged me to be a better person and player. I love you so much.
To my kids, Mackenzie, Hayden, Henry and Benjamin: Thank you for teaching me that baseball is not even close to the most important thing in the world. You guys changed my perspective on a lot of things and made me a better person. I am so excited to have the ability to be around a lot more, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for each of you. If you work hard and make good choices, your opportunities are endless!
Although my baseball career has come to an end, my family and I will continue to be heavily involved in the DMV community. You have given so much to use over the past 17 years; it is now time for us to give back to you. We look forward to continuing many of our community programs and starting new ones in the future. Our kids will be raised here, as this is now our home, and we couldn't be more excited.
So this is not a goodbye but more of a 'see you around.'
— Employee No. 11"
