Orioles Pitcher Fighting For Roster Spot After Offseason Surgery
The last few years have been a bumpy ride for Baltimore Orioles pitcher Bruce Zimmermann. The lefty made his MLB debut with zero fans in the stands in 2020, but two years later he found himself starting the Orioles' home opener at Camden Yards in front of a packed house.
Zimmermann showed promise early that year, opening the season with nine scoreless innings. He quickly regressed and finished with an ERA just under six, however.
He moved to the bullpen as a long reliever in 2023 and showed signs of improvement, going 2-0 with a 4.73 ERA in seven appearances. He was derailed by a painful core muscle injury that required in-season cortisone shots and, ultimately, offseason surgery.
Now healthy and flashing increased velocity, the 29-year-old southpaw is hoping to get his career back on track and contribute to a team that has improved dramatically during his tenure.
With multiple roster spots up for grabs due to injuries to pitchers Kyle Bradish and John Means, Zimmermann has a chance to make the Opening Day roster with a strong Spring Training, and potentially make an impact right out of the gate.
If not, Zimmermann will likely start the year in Triple-A, where he can pitch regularly and get his groove back. If an injury pops up, he could be called up later in the season.
Regardless of how his role shakes out, Zimmermann has an optimistic attitude and is willing to do whatever he can to help the team win.
"Whatever I'm available for, I want to be available for, and whenever the team needs me," he said.
