Humble Zimmer Set to Make Home Debut

Finishing-up his final round of batting practice Tuesday afternoon at Eastwood Field, Mahoning Valley Scrappers outfielder Bradley Zimmer first laced a couple of frozen-rope line drives to centerfield. 

Then, on his final two pitches, the 6-foot-5 lefty especially showed why the Cleveland Indians recently made him the 21st pick of the 2014 MLB Draft. 

Each time, he cocked-back and unleashed his smooth swing through the zone, yanking both pitches high and way far over the bullpen and clubhouse that sits behind the right field wall. The ball disappeared out of sight on both swings, the second shot even more majestic than the first.

"Way to swing it on those last few," said Craig Antush, Scrappers batting practice pitcher, as he and Zimmer returned to the first base dugout.

"Ahh, they were grooved right down the middle," Zimmer responded.

That's Zimmer. 

Humble. A bit soft-spoken. Yet loaded with potential and natural talent - even if he doesn't like to boast. Instead, the 21-year old from the University of San Francisco is simply focused on one thing as he continues to acclimate himself to the pros since joining the Scrappers on Wednesday.

"I just want to improve my game every day in all aspects," he said. "Hitting, defense, baserunning and putting together good at-bats."

In his professional debut on Monday in Auburn, Zimmer went 1 for 4 with an RBI single against the Doubledays. He is expected to be back in the lineup for a game Wednesday evening, as the Scrappers host Batavia in a doubleheader starting at 5:30 p.m. (Tuesday's series-opener was rained-out).

The 2014 First Team All-American has done mostly sitting and observing in his first week as a pro, but is enjoying the process.

"I'm happy to be here and I'm having a lot of fun so far," Zimmer said. "Everyone on the team's really nice and it's been fun out here kind of watching and seeing how it's done."

For three years at USF, Zimmer showed everyone else how it was done. 

He started 42 games as a freshman, hit .320 with seven homeruns and 19 stolen bases as a sophomore and then batted .368 with seven HRs and 19 SBs this past season as a junior.

Now, after becoming the first pick of the Indians 2014 draft class, he knows all eyes are on him. However, he doesn't plan on letting that fact bother his play.

"I just try to keep it in the back of my mind and go out there and have fun with it - just do what I do every day," Zimmer said. "Playing college baseball is really competitive at the Division I level, so I think with the experience I received and having a competitive mindset, I'm ready."

Plus, he's already got a slight idea of what the professional baseball scene is like. His older brother Kyle was the fifth overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. 

Kyle, a pitcher, hasn't been shy in sharing tips with his younger brother.

"Me and Kyle have had a really good relationship since Day 1," Zimmer said. "I love him to death and I'm just lucky enough to have had him kind of as a role model growing up and to see the developmental process he went through.

"So he's told me a few things, but in the end, it just comes down to being tough - physically and mentally - and having fun."