The Indians are still looking for help in their outfield, but it appears someone once thought to be a mainstay in that position won't be providing that help for the foreseeable future.
The club announced that Bradley Zimmer, who has battled injures and poor play all season, underwent surgery Friday in Dallas to repair the labrum in his right shoulder. The procedure is expected to keep the 25-year-old out of action for eight to 12 months, meaning he will miss the rest of 2018.
Zimmer, a first round draft pick in 2014, was a highly-touted prospect in the Tribe farm system before being called up to Cleveland in 2017. He impressed with his speed and defensive abilities, and was expected to take a firm hold of the starting center field spot this year.
But Zimmer got off to a poor start at the plate, and after crashing into the outfield wall during a May game against the New York Yankees was placed on the disabled list for nearly a month with bruised ribs. He returned on June 2, but his offensive struggles (44 strikeouts in just 106 at bats) forced the team to option him back to Triple-A Columbus just three days later.
Zimmer played just four games for the Clippers before injuring his right shoulder, and the timetable for his return had been unclear prior to todays announcement. He finishes the 2018 season with a .226 average with two home runs and four stolen bases in 34 Major League games.
Best-case scenario would have Zimmer returning toward the end of spring training next year, but in the meantime, his loss leaves the Indians without a possible option to aid an outfield that has been hit both by lack of production from players like Brandon Guyer and Greg Allen to injuries from others like Lonnie Chisenhall. The Tribe has reportedly explored adding another outfielder via trade, with Baltimore Orioles five-time All-Star Adam Jones being mentioned as a real possibility.
