SATURDAY, 5:38pm: Zimmer underwent an arthroscopic procedure to repair his right labrum, and he won’t return to full baseball activities for eight to 12 months, the team announced (Twitter link via Jordan Bastian of MLB.com). At least some of Zimmer’s 2019 season could be in jeopardy, then.
1:15am: Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer has undergone surgery on his right shoulder, the club announced and Cleveland.com’s Joe Noga reports. Zimmer had been on the minor-league disabled list.
It is not known precisely what repair work was done, so the outlook is largely unclear at this point. Per the report, though, it is generally expected that Zimmer “will not be available for the foreseeable future.”
Entering the year, the expectation was that Zimmer would play a significant portion of the innings in center field. But the 25-year-old struggled to a .226/.281/.339 batting line in his 114 plate appearances, striking out 44 times while drawing seven walks.
The news likely does not impact Cleveland’s plans at the trade deadline. Outfield was and is an area of need. Though it would have been nice to have Zimmer around as a possibility later this year, the injury is more worrisome for its future implications.
Whether or not Zimmer is able to return late in 2018, the former top prospect’s outlook is less certain than ever. The same can be said of the Indians’ anticipated outfield alignment in 2019 and beyond, the composition of which is anyone’s guess. Zimmer will not earn any MLB service time while he’s out, meaning he’ll still be in the 1+ service class until he makes it back to the majors.
From bad to worse. Yikes
Tough for Zimmer. Possible opportunity for Yandi to play in the OF along with Brantley and Naquin.
ADAM Jones?
Jay Bruce and in deal to Familia.
Was thinking the same thing. Would be comical at the same time.
What does that even mean
Maybe if he’d not crash into the wall every other day this wouldn’t happen.
Unfortunately you’re right, he plays hard like Grady used to and we all saw how his career unfolded.
Cleveland should have traded him at the peak of his value. They could have easily gotten a major piece to potentially win the WS in 2016 for him. Of course that is easy to say now, but it was worth the gamble then. Prospects get hurt and/or fail all the time, championships never do.
Must be nice having the vision you have…hindsight that is.
Now, if only Greg Allen could learn to hit major league pitching……..
It’s gonna be a while before Allen can hold his own at the place in the majors. Problem is Tribe can’t afford to give him significant reps this season. They need a producer in the OF now.
Corey Dickerson would be a good fit for Cleveland.
Dickerson isn’t the best available, but he’s definitely an upgrade over the usual suspects the Tribe is running out there. Sporadic power, but he’s solid defensively and maintains a .300 BA
I saw this coming when they went danced around questions about his health like they did with Salazar. Zimmer looks like he is destined to be a 4th outfielder that can be used for defensive replacement and pinch running. Not a bad bench piece but a team going for a WS needs a better starter.
Austin Jackson is looking for a job.
Well things are certainly looking up Melky is back in town and Michael Martinez is almost done healing right now. :/
I’m keeping an eye on Andrew Calica, currently at Akron.
Bud Norris + one of the Cards RH OFers would be a nice combo. Pham, Ozuna, and Bader all have at least one more year of control.
I doubt they’d be willing to trade Ozuna so soon after getting him and they probably view Bader as a building block, but I’d take any of those three for the outfield.
I haven’t kept up with him this season, but I was always a fan of Tyler O’Neill when he was with the Ms farm system.
Jackson can just keep on looking because CLE already has several versions of him in Davis, Naquin, Allen, and Guyer.
Hey, Naquin is having a decent year. Don’t lump him in with the non-producers.
He is a waste anyway
#troll
Nah, just tell the truth
#TROLL
You can’t handle the truth
#troll.
#troll
#Fanboys
Wow. 8 to 12 months… that’s a heck of a layoff. Best wishes to him for a complete recovery.