Zimmerman to re-hab with Potomac Nationals

Joseph White Associated Press
Published: July 13, 2008

WASHINGTON—Ryan Zimmerman goes to the minors Monday, following the trail blazed by so many of his fellow Washington Nationals teammates this season.

Zimmerman, recovering from a left shoulder injury, starts a rehab assignment as the designated hitter for Single-A Potomac on Monday and Tuesday. Then he'll join Triple-A Columbus to play third base for a four-game series starting Thursday.

Zimmerman has not played since May 25 because of a small labral tear. He started taking batting practice this week and said Sunday that a month-and-a-half of tedious shoulder exercises has the joint feeling as strong as it did in training camp.

"I'm not expecting it to feel perfect on every single swing, but it's to the point now where you can't really do any more damage to it," Zimmerman said. "It's strong enough, and you can't think about what-if-this and what-if-that."

Zimmerman becomes the eighth player on the Nationals big-league roster to rehab with Potomac this season, joining Shawn Hill, Paul Lo Duca, Elijah Dukes, Odalis Perez, Ronnie Belliard, Johnny Estrada and Ryan Wagner.

The Nationals are 14-31 since Zimmerman's last game. He is batting .257 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs.

"We don't have a date when he's going to come back," manager Manny Acta said. "Whenever he feels he's ready to come over here and help us, then he'll come over here. We don't have a certain amount of games set."

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PENA'S PAIN: Struggling outfielder Wily Mo Pena will have a dye test during the All-Star break to help determine the source of his nagging shoulder problem.

Pena has been bothered by the shoulder for a few weeks, adding more misery to a season in which he is batting .205 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. A cortisone shot a month or so ago failed to help, although he has continued to play with the discomfort.

"It hasn't been easy, especially with all the expectations that were created around him after he played so well for us at the end of the season last year," Acta said. "I'm sure that he believes, he's the last guy to think he was going to be where he is right now."