While one of the Nationals’ top pitching prospects made his return to the major leagues Thursday, the other spent his morning at Washington Hospital Center undergoing an MRI that could define the next 12 months of his career.
Jordan Zimmermann was back on the mound for the Nationals just 12 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow. Stephen Strasburg, meanwhile, underwent an arthrogram — in which dye was injected into his right forearm to give a more detailed look at his strained flexor tendon. The results weren’t immediately available, though Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said the organization should have a diagnosis by Friday. Not even Zimmermann’s return to the mound or the introduction of No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper on Thursday could overshadow Strasburg’s MRI and what it portends for 2011.
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“I wouldn’t venture to guess,” Nats manager Jim Riggleman said. “The thing with Stephen is he’s in our offices yesterday saying, ‘Hey, I can pitch tonight. I feel great.’ But you never know. Jordan Zimmermann last year thought he could pitch right through that whole situation. It just wasn’t to be. All I can do is speculate like anybody else.”
Strasburg was originally injured in the fifth inning of Saturday’s win at Philadelphia. The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft is the linchpin of the organization’s rebuilding process. Bad news on Friday will be a devastating setback. If it’s only a minor setback, then the Nats can begin dreaming of a legitimate big league rotation — in 2011 and beyond.
