VIERA, Fla. — Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman left Friday’s game in the third inning after diving to his left to snag a ground ball.
Manager Matt Williams downplayed the incident, explaining that Zimmerman “banged himself a little bit” on the play. Williams also noted that the 30-year-old was playing his third game in a row. The Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals ended the game after nine innings with the score tied at 1.
When asked about the location of the injury, Williams pointed to his left side.
“He’s good. He’s played three in a row. He’s fine. He dove for that ball, banged himself a little bit. But he’s good. No worries,” Williams said. “If he had to play, he could play. No issues.”
Zimmerman hit the ground while fielding a ball with two outs in the first inning, then tossed it to Jordan Zimmermann at first base for the out. He drew a walk at plate in his only at-bat in the bottom of the inning.
Then, in the top of the second inning, third baseman Ian Stewart skied a throw to first base and Zimmerman extended to reach it but missed. The ball skipped to the wall near the dugout and was ruled a single for Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty. Zimmerman did not come back out to the field in the third.
SEE ALSO: Emmanuel Burriss, Manny Delcarmen, Kila Ka’aihue among six players reassigned by Nationals
Williams said Zimmerman did not ask to come out of the game. A reporter pointed out that many of Zimmerman’s injuries have resulted from dives.
“No more of those. We don’t want any more of those,” Williams said. “He’s good, though.”
Though Williams was calm, history has made it fair to question the team’s preliminary diagnoses. Two days after Anthony Rendon sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee March 9, Williams said, “No issues other than a bruise. [He’ll be] good to go in a day or so.” He hasn’t played since.
In another instance, on Opening Day last season, Williams said the preliminary X-rays in Wilson Ramos’ hand were negative. The team later revealed that Ramos had broken the hamate bone in his hand and missed 32 games.
In all likelihood, the Nationals will already begin this season without multiple starters. Left fielder Jayson Werth is probably closest to returning, but he still hasn’t taken a full session of batting practice as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Center fielder Denard Span was scheduled to take light swings with a fungo bat Friday for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery earlier this month. Rendon has still not been cleared to resume baseball activities.
Non-roster invitee Mike Carp replaced Zimmerman at first base in Friday’s game and is among a handful of players who could fill-in there should Zimmerman’s injury prove to be more severe. Roster hopefuls Tyler Moore and Clint Robinson have also played first base this spring.
SEE ALSO: Nationals’ Denard Span takes swings, Anthony Rendon works on lateral movement
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.