MLB All-Star Ryan Zimmerman of the National League East Division team Washington Nationals is giving back to University of Virginia in a big and generous way.

Zimmerman, the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft fourth overall pick of the Nats, this week donated US$1 million to his alma mater's Virginia Athletics Foundation in order to support the school's baseball team.

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"I am proud to be a Cavalier and would not be the person or player I am today without my experiences at the University of Virginia," Zimmerman, who wrapped up the 2015 regular season with a .249 average, 16 home runs, 73 RBIs, 43 runs score and one stolen base, said. "This is a tremendous opportunity to give back and maintain a standard of excellence that will keep Virginia baseball among the best programs in ... college baseball. I hope others will join me in support of this project."

The Nationals first baseman played college baseball for the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference where he started in all 174 games he appeared in. He led the Cavaliers with a .393 average, .581 slugging percentage, 136 total bases, 92 hits, 59 RBIs, and 51 runs.

Zimmerman is one of 29 UVA products to have made it to play in the major leagues. Others former Cavaliers are Mark Reynolds of the National League West Conference team Colorado Rockies, Michael Scwimer, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Puerto Rican Born Javier Lopez of the San Francisco Giants.

Zimmerman has donated $250,000 to the school in the past for the renovation of Davenport Field and the indoor hitting facility was named after him, according to the university.

Zimmerman is a recipient of the Gold Glove Award in 2009 and a two-time winner of Silver Slugger Award in years 2009 and 2010. He represented the United States in the FISU II World University Baseball Championship in 2014, where the team won a gold metal.

TagsRyan zimmerman, mlb, washington nationals