He was the first player given the award and as of this year, the only player. He also won the ESPN WEB Gem Award, which is given to the player with the most Top 10 plays on SportsCenter. Zimmerman also won a Fielding Bible Award as Major League Baseball's best fielding third baseman. On November 11, 2009, he won a Gold Glove Award as the best defensive third baseman in the National League, and on Novemhe won a Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive third baseman in the league. On September 6, 2009, he hit a walk-off two-run homer against the Florida Marlins to give the Nationals a 5–4 win. On July 5, 2009, he was selected to his first All-Star Game. His streak of reaching base (via hit or walk) in 43 consecutive games ended on May 26. That streak was broken May 13 against the Giants, going 0-for-3 with two walks in five plate appearances he hit into a fielder's choice in his last at-bat. He hit safely in 30 consecutive games, the longest such streak by any player since 2006. On April 20, 2009, Zimmerman signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Nationals through the 2013 season, replacing the one year, $3.325 million contract he had agreed to in February in order to avoid arbitration. Although he was named on more ballots (29–27), Zimmerman finished second in the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year voting to Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramírez in the closest Rookie of the Year vote ever. He led all Major Leaguers with 10 or more bunts in bunt hit percentage, at 83.3% with 10 bunt hits. 352 OBP, 84 runs scored, 176 hits, 47 doubles, 3 triples, and 11 steals. Along with those two figures, he finished the 2006 season with 156 games played, 612 at-bats. During the 2006 spring training, Frank Robinson said that he thought 12 homers and 60 RBIs would be a realistic goal for his rookie infielder Zimmerman exceeded those expectations and finished with 20 home runs and 110 RBIs. Frank Robinson once compared Zimmerman's defense to that of Brooks Robinson, a former teammate of Frank Robinson's. During his first season as the Nationals' third baseman, Zimmerman became a hometown hero and a fan favorite through his defense and ability to come through in late-inning situations.
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