7 years agoWashington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman isn't in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game and won't return to the lineup until the weekend. The move is surprising given how close Opening Day is, but Zimmerman has been taking at-bats on the back fields and says he's 100 percent. No one is indicating that there's an injury afoot, it just seems like the Nationals are being extremely cautious with the oft-injured slugger. He was even seen shagging fly balls before the game. Zimmerman is coming off a career season, but no one is buying a repeat. Hiding him like this only reinforces his fragile reputation, so it's possible that he drops steeply in drafts. Depending on him for a full season at this point, though, is beyond unreasonable.--Mario Hernandez - RotoBaller
Source: Chelsea Janes - The Washington Post