Hard-hitting Zimmerman must elevate ball to succeed

MLB.com Nationals reporter Jamal Collier discusses how Ryan Zimmerman's future with the Nationals could depend on his 2017 performanceLet's provide two facts about Ryan Zimmerman that initially don't seem to make a lot of sense when paired together, facts that could go a long way toward explaining his 2016 season and projecting what Washington may expect in 2017.

Fact No. 1: Zimmerman crushed the ball in 2016

His 93.7-mph average exit velocity was the 12th best of the 375 batters who had at least 100 tracked balls in play -- better than Josh Donaldson and Paul Goldschmidt. Sluggers like Nelson Cruz and Miguel Cabrera are in the Top 5; slap hitters like Billy Hamilton and Dee Gordon are in the…