Getting drafted is definitely a longer road for a high school kid. It takes a certain kind of player, someone who is more mature. I matured later. I wasn’t as strong and physical as everyone yet, which is why I wasn’t drafted. So I needed my three years in college to grow up, get stronger and grow into my body. I felt kind of goofy, with big feet on this little kid. But deciding to go pro after high school is a tough decision for some kids.

When I was in high school, I played with two guys who got drafted: B.J. Upton and David Wright. If you’re taken as a top pick, then you usually have a good head on your shoulders. Some kids just mature earlier than others.

B.J. was physically more mature and Dave was the same way. B.J. was an unbelievable athlete. They grew up quicker and were ready to go so it was a smart decision.

I was just 17 when I went to college. I was always younger and physically more immature than everyone else. When I got to college, I gained 15 pounds just from growing up and getting on a lifting program, stuff I’d never really done in high school. One year of that and I matured a little bit and it helped me get ready.

This story continues below
Advertisement

And the level of play in college baseball is unbelievable, which helped me improve. The pitching on weekends was about the same level as AA in the minors. My junior year I faced two or three kids on the weekends who are already in the big leagues. The speed of the game is slower, but you play against the same quality of competition.

Money is a big issue, but I think it’s easier to handle the money these days than it was 20 years ago because you have so many people to help you. Before, you’d hear about people who were drafted and two years later all of their money is gone. But if you pick a good person to help you, it’s hard to blow it all. I know if I came out at 17 and signed a $3 million contract I would probably buy stupid things, too. I buy them now.

But it’s also hard for a high school kid because if you’ve been drafted, you’ve probably never really failed. You’ve always hit .400 or .500 and it takes a while to learn to fail. B.J. has grown up a little bit; I talk to him a lot and he’s gone through a lot of growing pains and this year he’s figured it out. When you’re picked where he was (second overall), then everyone is eyeing you. You don’t want to have to worry about switching positions and that got in his head a little bit and made him struggle.

As told to The Examiner’s John Keim.

Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is one of baseball’s rising stars and, at 22, the face of the franchise. Now he’ll share his thoughts with The Examiner’s readers each week throughout the baseball season.