Nationals: Starting First Base Job Belongs to Matt Adams

Washington Nationals first basemen Ryan Zimmerman was placed on the IL with plantar fasciitis Sunday, giving Matt Adams a shot at the starting job.

Ryan Zimmerman is a Washington Nationals legend. The 34-year-old has played his entire 15-year career in the Nations Capitol and is one run batted in away from driving in 1,000 on his career.

Throughout his time in D.C. Zimmerman has become the face of the Nationals franchise, and his production has led him to hold many all-time Nats records. Despite being bitten by the injury bug the past few seasons, Zimmerman has still managed to solidify his role as a starter every time he comes back from being hurt.

In his 1,659 games in a Nationals uniform, Zimm has never been considered the “backup”. In 2019, that is about to change.

After being placed on the IL on Sunday with plantar fasciitis, an injury Zimmerman suffered in also suffered back in 2015. Although the diagnosis is complicated, the injury kept the veteran out for seven weeks in 2015, so it seems likely we will not see him on the field for two to three weeks at the earliest.

At the age of 34, the injury likely will be harder for Zimmerman to recover from than it even was three years ago, so Washington may be looking at a scenario where they are without him till the middle of June.

With that being the case, Matt Adams who Washington resigned this offseason for this very scenario, will take over as the starting first basemen.

Since coming to D.C. in 2018, Adams has been by far a more productive player than Zimmerman. Last season in 94 games for the Nationals Adams hit .257 with 18 home runs, 48 runs batted in, and had a slugging percentage of .510.

Zimmerman, on the other hand, was unable to stay healthy all season, and when he did play he was just not very productive till the end of the year. In just 85 games he hit .264 with 13 home runs, 51 runs batted in, and had a slugging percentage of .486.

Adams showed just how productive he can be on Sunday, hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning giving the Nationals a much-needed victory.

In limited plate appearances in 2019 Adams has posted solid production with a .267 batting average, three home runs, 13 runs batted in, and a .578 slugging percentage. The usual slow starting Zimmerman has carried over his trend from last season hitting just .213 with three home runs and 11 runs batted in.

With Matt Adams in the starting lineup, the Washington Nationals are a better team, plain and simple. The Nationals need to move on from Zimmerman as the starter, as tough as it may be.

Even if he is not in the starting lineup every day, Zimmerman can still play a role for the team starting at first against lefties instead of Adams.

Ryan Zimmerman is a Washington Nationals legend, but father time waits for no man. Zimmerman’s time is over, and it is time for Matt Adams to take over as the Nationals starting first basemen.