Nats pitcher expected to miss 12 to 18 months
Nationals right-handed pitcher Jordan Zimmermann will undergo ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow and is expected to miss 12 to 18 months.
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Zimmermann, 23, received the news from Nats general manager Mike Rizzo on Monday. The diagnosis of a torn ulnar collateral ligament was originally made last Friday by team doctor Wiemi Douoguih, who sent the test images to renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. He confirmed the diagnosis of a torn ligament and the need for Tommy John surgery. Washington will get a third and final opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum, another top orthopedic surgeon. But he is simply expected to confirm the news.
“[Zimmermann] showed flashes this year of being a brilliant young pitcher,” Rizzo said. “We still believe Jordan will be a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher in the big leagues. He has the stuff and the command to do it. We want to see him back to his pre-injury form.”
Zimmermann was 3-5 with a 4.63 ERA in 16 starts during his rookie season. The Nats were careful with their prized prospect, who was ranked the organization’s No. 1 minor-leaguer by Baseball America in February. Zimmermann didn’t make his first start with Washington until April 20th, spending the first three weeks of the season at Triple-A.
The only reassuring news for Zimmermann is that Tommy John surgery has a success rate of close to 90 percent. New York Yankees starter A.J. Burnett underwent the procedure in May of 2003 and was back in the big leagues by June the following year. Rizzo said that Zimmermann could be back pitching by next summer and at full strength for spring training in 2011.
Zimmermann has battled pain in his right elbow since at least June. He had a start pushed back that month and went on the disabled list July 19th with elbow soreness. After a rehab start at Single-A Potomac, an MRI was scheduled when Zimmermann felt more pain. No date for surgery has been scheduled yet.
Nats Notes
» Washington had its first day off since the All-Star break on Monday. The Nats begin a two-game series tonight in Atlanta.
» Major League Baseball sources refuted a Boston Globe story Sunday that the Red Sox had claimed Nats shortstop Cristian Guzman on waivers. Instead, Guzman has passed through waivers and is eligible to be traded to any team. Team sources say that a trade remains unlikely, however.
» The Nats announced the signing of five Dominican prospects on Monday: IF Jean Valdez, 16, is a power hitter who Washington scouting director Dana Brown calls “the prized signing of the group.” The others are OF Jose Norberto, 18, and RHPs Cleto Brazoban, 17, Vidal Paredes, 18, and George Rosa, 19.
