http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/17/AR2005081701874.htmlNATIONALS NOTEBOOK
Zimmerman To Get a Shot At ShortstopBy Barry Svrluga
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 18, 2005; Page E07
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 17 -- With shortstop Cristian Guzman struggling both offensively and defensively, Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden instructed the team's player development department to play top prospect Ryan Zimmerman, a natural third baseman, every day at shortstop.
"He has the ability to play both short and third," Bowden said. "That protects us at both positions as we head into September. He's a very special defensive player with great hands and a good arm. He's going to hit. He's going to hit with power. And he's going to be, probably, rushed to the big leagues. That's life."
Zimmerman played third base at the University of Virginia, but Bowden said he saw him take ground balls at shortstop during a workout. Bowden, not shy in favorable evaluations, wrote in his ensuing report that Zimmerman "could be Cal Ripken at shortstop and somewhere between Scott Rolen and Brooks Robinson at third base."
Zimmerman entered Wednesday hitting .315 and slugging .525 with seven homers and 27 RBI in 49 games for Class AA Harrisburg. On Tuesday, Manager Frank Robinson blasted Guzman's shaky defense -- six errors in the previous eight games.
In Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Phillies, Guzman responded by hitting two balls hard, one for a double, and making a sterling play on defense, picking a throw from catcher Brian Schneider out of the dirt and turning a double play.