Nats place Zimmerman on DL, recall Walters from Triple-A Syracuse

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

April 13, 2014, 6:27am

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The Washington Nationals today recalled infielder Zach Walters from Triple-A Syracuse and placed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day Disabled List with a right thumb fracture. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Walters has worked to a .290 batting average in nine games for Triple-A Syracuse this season, with a .303 on-base percentage and .452 slugging percentage. He's clubbed three doubles and a triple, and driven in three runs.

This will be the second Major League assignment for Walters, 24, after he hit .375 (3-for-8) in nine Major League games last September. Walters entered the 2014 season ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the Nationals' organization, according to industry insider Baseball America.

Through his first 10 games of the season, Zimmerman is batting .364 with a .405 on-base percentage and .636 slugging percentage. He's hit two home runs and three doubles, walked three times and driven in six runs.

Hitting in the middle of the Nationals' lineup, Zimmerman has been an integral part of an offense that has helped the Nationals average 5.27 runs per game - the second-highest average of any team in the National League (Colorado leads with 5.50).

Zimmerman suffered the injury on Saturday night against the Atlanta Braves when he dove into the second base bag.