Name: Bruce Zimmermann (click link for full 2019 scouting report)
Position: LHP
Age as of 6/30/20: 25
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Current Grade: 40
Future Grade: 45
Ceiling Grade: 50
Most Likely Future Role: Swingman, Long Reliever, left handed reliever
Ceiling: 4th/5th start
Career Stats
Quick Scouting Report Update: An interesting year for the 25-year old left-hander that saw him make his major league debut this September. Showed up in spring training with a velocity bump throwing 93-95 MPH in short one and two innings tints during spring training. Slowed a very sharp slider in the spring, but it had some much break he struggled to control it.
COVID shut things down and unfortunately, he reportedly was unable to report to the auxiliary camp due to COVID concerns. Once he did arrive he never quite looked right, but the Orioles had a starter need in September and he made his major league debut on Sept 17th against the Rays. Unstable to find the command of his change or slider, he struggled through that start and then pitched only one other time before the end of the year in long relief when he slider was much better.
Zimmermann throws a 91-94 MPH fastball that has decent arm side run, but doesn’t generate a lot of swing and miss. His slider is his best swing and miss offering, especially against lefties with it’s slightly above average break and almost flat depth. That flat depth though makes it questionable how much success he can have with the pitch against righties. that makes his changeup an important offering for the righties and unfortunately his change backed up a little from 2019.
Saying that, Zimmermann is very similar to Kevin Smith, but has a better changeup and little less depth on the slider. If his changeup returns and he can spot his fastball, which using the slider as a weapon against lefties, he could end up a 4th/5th starter. With his slider though, he can be weapon against tough lefties so he has a lefty reliever floor.
