WASHINGTON D.C. - Former UW-Stevens Point standout and Auburndale native Jordan Zimmermann has been named the fifth starter in the Washington Nationals pitching rotation.

Zimmermann, a non-roster invitee to spring training, had an impressive spring, going 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA in five games with 20 strikeouts. The performance was enough for the organization to notice, offering the spot in their rotation to the 22 year old right-hander.

This marks the next step in an already impressive rise to the major leagues for Zimmermann, who earlier this spring was named the Nationals top prospect by Baseball America. He has a career minor league record of 15-5 with a 2.74 ERA in two seasons and over 187 innings pitched. In four of his five outings this spring, Zimmerman did not allow a run and twice did not allow a hit.

Zimmerman is scheduled to make his Major League debut on April 19 against the Florida Marlins at Nationals Park.

The 67th overall pick of the 2007 amateur draft, Zimmermann was a two-time All-American pitcher for the Pointers and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 NCAA Division III World Series. He finished the 2007 season 10-0, posting a 2.08 ERA in 13 appearances. He fanned 90 batters in 78.0 innings, allowing just 18 earned runs. Opponents batted just .185 against him in 2007.