By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Auburndale native and former UW-Stevens Point baseball standout Jordan Zimmermann has announced a $500,000 donation to the Pointers’ baseball program. Athletics Director Brad Duckworth says it’s the single-largest contribution in the history of the athletics program.

Zimmermann

“We’re honored to partner with those guys. Jordan and Mandy are terrific people, and my first gut reaction was ‘Wow, thank you,’” he said.

The money will be used to improve facilities for both Pointer baseball and softball, which Zimmermann’s wife Mandy also played at Point.

“We’re going to put a high-level minor league baseball stadium, a scoreboard – which we need desperately. We’ll put in pro-style double-barrel batting cages,” Duckworth added.

Duckworth says the gift is symbolic of the Zimmermann’s character, which doesn’t fit the typical athlete stereotype.

“Jordan and Mandy are humble, they are about giving, they are about making an impact.”

With current state funding levels not meeting the school’s need, Duckworth says alumni support has become more important than ever.

“For us, if we’re going to continue to have this high-level success, we’ve got to continue to grow and make facility changes and move forward, and Jordan’s gift is a huge step forward for us in a lot of ways.”

Jordan Zimmermann was selected by the Washington Nationals in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft and currently plays for the Detroit Tigers. Duckworth says the stadium will also be named Zimmermann Field, once completed.