Former Express pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (UW-Stevens Point) was selected in the second round (67) by the Washington Nationals today in the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

Zimmermann becomes the third player, who has played for the Express to be drafted as Nevin Ashley was drafted in the sixth round (169) in last year’s draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after a brief stint with Eau Claire and Chris Jones was drafted by the Boston Red Sox 888 overall in the 2005 Draft.

Zimmermann led all pitchers in the Northwoods League last season with a 1.01 earned run average and finished second with 92 strikeouts. In 80.0 innings of work, Zimmermann allowed only nine earned runs on 42 hits and 28 walks. The 6-foot-1-inch Auburndale native finished the season with a 4-2 record.

Zimmermann was named the Northwoods League Player of the Night three times during the 2006 season. In those three appearances, Zimmermann pitched 26.1 innings and allowed only one earned run on eight hits while striking out 34 batters. Zimmermann was named to both regular season and post season Northwoods League All-Star teams.