Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman Back on DL, Nats Call Up Brian Goodwin

Today, the Washington Nationals put Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list with a left wrist contusion and called up outfielder Brian Goodwin

It’s been a tough year for Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman just came off the disabled list on July 26 after a rib cage strain. Today, Zimmerman went back on the DL, retroactive to August 1, because of a left wrist contusion:

The wrist injury for Zimmerman occurred against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in the series finale Sunday. In the top of the ninth, Zimmerman was hit in the left wrist on a pitch from Santiago Casilla. Before that injury, the first baseman was 5-for-21 in the six games he played in during that week.

In 80 games this season, Zimmerman is hitting .222 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI’s. The 31-year-old hasn’t hit higher than .262 (May) in any given month and he has a batting average below .200 in each of the last two months.

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With Zimmerman on the DL, the Washington Nationals decided to call up outfielder Brian Goodwin, who was having a good season at triple-A Syracuse. In 109 games, Goodwin had a .284 batting average with 11 home runs, 62 RBI’s, 14 stolen bases, and a .350 on-base percentage.

Back in 2011, the Washington Nationals selected Goodwin with the 34^th pick in the MLB Draft, which was a compensatory pick for losing Adam Dunn in free agency to the White Sox. Over the last two seasons, Goodwin didn’t have a batting average higher than .226 (2015 – double-A Harrisburg) and he only played in 81 games at triple-A in 2014 because of injury.

This season, Goodwin made the International League All-Star team and he ended the month of July hitting .284 with three home runs and 18 RBI’s. His 62 RBI’s this season are the second most in the International League, eight behind Jesus Aguilar of the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians).

Now that Zimmerman is on the disabled list, the Nats will use Daniel Murphy and Clint Robinson at first base. When Murphy is at first, it is likely you will see Trea Turner play second base. Murphy is at first and Turner is at second in tonight’s lineup against the Giants.

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By bringing up Goodwin, the Washington Nationals add more speed to their bench to go with Wilmer Difo. With Stephen Drew and Jose Lobaton on the DL, there is a lot of inexperience on the bench with Goodwin, Difo, and backup catcher Pedro Severino.

One way that Baker can use Goodwin is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter has a .326 batting average in 144 at-bats against left-handed pitching. Plus, he can play all three outfield positions, even though he has played mainly center field this season with Syracuse.

Now that Goodwin is up in the big leagues for the first time, it will be interesting to watch how he takes advantage of this opportunity with the Nationals.