McLEAN, Va. – Few local athletes are as entrenched in Washington as Ryan Zimmerman. The first draft pick after the Montreal Expos relocated to D.C. and became the Washington Nationals in 2005, Zimmerman made his Major League debut that same season and has been in town ever since. So he’s well aware of the other big games for Washington teams Wednesday.

“We pay attention,” he told WTOP of the Nationals clubhouse, while appearing at an anti-distracted driving campaign event Wednesday. “All the teams here have a pretty good relationship. I’ve known a bunch of the hockey guys for a while.”

Originally from the Virginia Beach area, Zimmerman and his wife bought a house in Great Falls in 2013 and spends his offseasons locally, a rarity for professional athletes.

“I have a special connection. I’ve been here for a long time,” he said. “Some of the connections I have with fans and people that I’ve met here, I obviously see how much they want those teams to be successful, and it’s hard not to root for them.”

So while the Nationals and Orioles squaring off might lead the sports page some days, he understands there are larger games on the D.C. sports docket Wednesday night.

“It’s a pretty good sports day in the city. With those two playoff days and us against the Orioles, that’s about as good as it gets.”