Zimmerman takes live batting practice for first time since injury

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took another step in his rehabilitation from a right hamstring strain by taking live batting practice on the field prior to Tuesday's game with the Atlanta Braves.

Zimmerman was happy to get back on the field, but he said that running at full speed will be more critical to him getting back into games. And he is still a ways away from from that milestone.

"Running is the biggest thing," Zimmerman said. "I don't want to downplay hitting and throwing because, obviously, it's my back leg, where that is the power and the plant and all that. It's not a small thing.

"(But) running is going to be the biggest steps. We've jogged a couple of times the last few days and we really have to sort of just take our time as frustrating as it is now because we are so close. You can't go through what we've gone through and get here and rush. Then you can pretty much waste all the time that we've done these past how ever many weeks it's been."

Zimmerman did say that taking part in batting practice will help him build back strength in his swing.

"I need to get back into shape hitting-wise," Zimmerman said. "I can't take as many swings as I normally do yet without getting fatigued and sore the next day, so that's part of the progression. It's coming along. Everything has been positive and good so far. We're not there yet. We're still a little ways a way. These are all good signs compared to signs of if it's still hurt now it'd be bad."

The veteran third baseman said he is about halfway back to where he wants to be running-wise. He has to make sure not to force the issue with this hamstring.

"Probably 50 or 60 percent," he said. "I haven't done any side-to-side stuff yet," Zimmerman said. "We still have a little ways to go. Obviously, coming out here and being on the field everyone is going to get excited including me. We're going to have to pump the brakes a little bit and make sure that when I come back I'm ready to play, don't want to reinjure it. We're working our way towards that."