In their wildest dreams the Nationals think about a 2011 season with a healthy Stephen Strasburg building on his fine rookie season and top prospect Jordan Zimmermann right behind him in a promising young rotation.
That seemed a long way off last summer when Zimmermann underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament. The recovery time was 12 to 18 months. Yet just over 12 months later, Zimmermann has already made nine minor league starts, dominating at that level as he did in 2008 when he turned himself into the organization’s top pre-Strasburg pitcher.
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Strasburg is heading to the 15-day disabled list this week thanks to a strained flexor tendon, and Zimmermann will take his spot in the rotation on Thursday, according to a team source. That’s a remarkable recovery time from his last big league start on July 18, 2009. Now with the rehab just about over comes the hard part: Can Zimmermann harness that talent and turn Washington’s rotation into a strength as soon as next season?
It’s been a remarkable recovery. But there is precedent, too. St. Louis Cardinals left-handed rookie Jaime Garcia, at 24 — the same age as Zimmermann — is having a brilliant season at 11-6 with a 2.42 ERA. And he’s doing it for a team in the thick of the playoff race. Garcia, too, was a top prospect who cruised through the Cardinals’ system in 2007 despite some elbow soreness. But he performed well in 2008 in the minors, earning a call-up to St. Louis, where he struggled to a 5.63 ERA.
After the season, team doctors determined Garcia needed Tommy John surgery. Garcia pitched 37 2⁄3 innings in the minors in 2009 and performed well for Triple-A Memphis in the postseason. That set up his outstanding 2010. The Cardinals even let No. 3 starter Joel Pineiro leave via free agency in part because they knew Garcia was ready to move into their rotation. The Nats can only hope Zimmermann (1.59 ERA in 10 minor league starts) is ready to take a similar leap in 2011.
