Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, currently on the mend after suffering a UCL sprain, looks to be nearing his return, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. On Thursday, Zimmermann threw 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo, coming away pleased with the 69 pitches he threw and declaring his readiness to rejoin the Major League rotation for his next start. Whether that will actually come to fruition is up to the Tigers’ brass, though manager Ron Gardenhire seemed hesitant to welcome back a pitcher whose limited workload could lead to more bullpen days, which the team is trying to avoid. Regardless, the 33-year-old’s return looks to be just around the corner, certainly a promising development for a team that has had to patch together a starting staff after withstanding injuries to four-fifths of its Opening Day rotation.
Here are the latest updates on other injuries from around baseball…
- Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo is going to consult more specialists about the bulging disc in his neck, tweets Tim Healey of Newsday. Nimmo has been sidelined with that same injury since May 20, and the latest is a troubling development for an organization that has been maligned for its handling of players’ injuries. At this time, there is still no timeline for when Nimmo might be cleared to return.
- Marlins left-hander Caleb Smith has been cleared to begin a throwing program, tweets Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. Smith landed on the 10-day IL on June 7 thanks to inflammation in his left hip, but it doesn’t appear that the injury will keep him out much longer, as Smith is on track to return in late June. The 27-year-old southpaw has quietly emerged as a promising starter for the Marlins, having struck out 82 batters in 62 innings of work. Over the last two seasons in Miami, Smith has posted an impressive 3.83 ERA in 143 1/3 innings.
- Hunter Dozier will spend the next three days rehabbing with the Royals’ Double-A affiliate, according to Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com, who adds that Dozier will later join Triple-A Omaha after the birth of his child. The next step following that is to work his way back to the MLB club, which is good news for the Royals, who originally tabbed Dozier to return in late June. It looks like that timeline is still a realistic target for the third baseman, who has emerged as one of Kansas City’s few untouchable pieces and an All-Star candidate in the American League.
- Another promising update for the Reds, with left-hander Alex Wood nearing a rehab assignment, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, who tweets that the southpaw has a live BP session on Tuesday, which could lead to a minor-league rehab stint if all goes well. Wood, 28, has been dealing with lower back soreness that has put his Reds debut on hold. However, it looks as if that time could come around the All-Star break for the former Dodger.
matt41265
Just curious was nimmos 2018 year a one year wonder season
gmetwagner
Mets always have players with 15 Day injuries that turn into career enders. I always wonder what’s going on with their med staff.
dwightgoodenspinkynail
We have 1 and a half seasons of Brandon Nimmo being extremely good and 1 and a half months of him being not good while trying to play through a difficult injury.. Nimmo is legit.
robbie71
Zimmermann gave tigers about 5 months of good pitching.its been a dumpster fire of a signing.at least hes gone after this season.
Tigernut2000
Sorry to say, Robbie, we are stuck with him in 2020 too. For another $25 million.
He finally goes away in 2021,
robbie71
ugh!
JrodFunk5
I can’t recall any of these 5 months. A few lucky starts his first month in a Tiger uniform maybe
Tigernut2000
“A promising development”? Please. Find one Tigers fan who will be glad to see Zimmerman back on the mound. “Promising” to us would be hearing there’s a chance he is going to retire.
Give him a couple of weeks (and a few bad outings) and he will hurt something else.
quantomoffandom
Was this a Dave D signing or an Al signing?
Tigernut2000
Al jumped on this one weeks ahead of anyone else signing. Many of us questioned why the big rush and why so many years. The Nats were not interested, which should have told Al something. He had already started regressing in D.C.
GarryHarris
Mike Illich wanted to win at all cost regardless of the future. Agency companies such as ISE, Boros, Reynolds and all others knew this, had a direct line and took advantage of an old man.
ISE: Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Jordan Zimmermann
Boros: Prince Fielder
Reynolds: Justin Upton.
??? Victor Martinez
Tigernut2000
Yes, except Verlander was traded 5 months after Mike Illitch died, so I doubt Mike had much involvement with that one.
Miguel Cabrerra was a steal, trade-wise. The only problem was he overpaid and made the contract too long.. Remember DD also extended the D Train for no reason. He proceeded to take his millions and go home to watch the games on TV, after doing nothing to help the Tigers.
tigerfan4ever
I was so excited about the Zimmermann signing in part because of his track record in DC and in part because I lived in Marshfield which is a few miles west of Auburndale, Wisconsin where he’s from. It truly looked like a good signing after the first six weeks, but yes, I don’t know anything either about a promising development of him coming off the IL. I think it’s time he retire and head back home to my old stomping grounds.
daman2032
He’s got 25 million reasons to not do that.
robbie71
ala the famous quotes
leftcoaster
Dead Wood.
tigerfan4ever
Zimmermann is slated to start Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh. Fun fun fun.