FARGO, N.D. –
Will Zimmerman signed to play professional baseball with the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the independent American Association. Zimmerman began playing with the Redhawks Friday, May 28 and has made an immediate contribution to the team.
Zimmerman has played in five games for the Redhawks, playing in left field. He is hitting .389 with three runs scored, one triple, two home runs, and six RBIs. He has one stolen base. Zimmerman made an instant impact in his first game against the Houston Apollos as he reached base on an error after an outstanding bunt, helping the winning run come into score. In his second game against the Apollos, Zimmerman went 3-of-4 with a triple and a home run. Zimmerman went 2-of-3 on Monday, May 31 against the Gary SouthShore Railcats. He had a home run. The Redhawks have gone 5-0 since Zimmerman joined the team. He has been dubbed on social media as "Will the Thrill".
Zimmerman is one of three former Golden Eagles currently playing professional baseball. He joins Zach Seipel, the program's first-ever Major League Baseball draft pick. Seipel is currently in the Atlanta Braves organization, competing for the Class-A Augusta Greenjackets in Augusta, Ga. Seipel is 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA with three saves in 68.2 innings pitched in his minor league career. In 2021, he has appeared in seven games with 8.1 innings pitched and eight strikeouts. He played for the Danville Braves in 2018, the Danville Braves and the GCL Braves in 2019, and now the Greenjackets in 2021.
Former Golden Eagle Matt Dallas is also playing professional baseball. Dallas is currently competing for his hometown Boise Hawks of the Pioneer League. Dallas is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in one start with six strikeouts and four walks. Dallas began his professional career with the River City Rascals of the Frontier League in 2017. In 2018, he competed for the Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers of the United Shore League. In 2019, Dallas pitched for the New Jersey Jackals of the Canadian-American Association. In 2020, Dallas played for the Jersey Wise Guys in the All-American Baseball Challenge and the Indiana Barn Owls in the Liberation League. As a professional, he has a 3.32 ERA in 124.2 innings pitched with 160 strikeouts and 80 walks.
Zimmerman was a two-year player for the Golden Eagles after transferring from Division I Arkansas State University. He earned All-NSIC Second Team honors in 2021, and also was named to the NSIC All-Defensive Team. Zimmerman hit .330 with 42 runs scored, nine doubles, one triple, eight home runs, and 29 RBIs. He led the team with 21 stolen bases. Defensively, he had a .989 fielding percentage with 86 putouts and eight assists. Zimmerman helped the Golden Eagles to one of their best seasons in program history. UMN Crookston was ranked for the first time in program history, reaching No. 18 in the NCBWA poll. Minnesota Crookston picked up three wins in the NSIC Tournament, advancing to the final four of the NSIC for the first-time ever. The Golden Eagles were one win shy of making it to the NSIC Championship game.
