Orioles Down Another Pitcher with Bruce Zimmermann Injury

The Baltimore Orioles will be down another starting pitcher for part of the season after Bruce Zimmermann’s IL placement this past Friday

This past Friday, the Baltimore Orioles announced that starting pitcher Bruce Zimmermann was placed on the 10-day injured list with left bicep tendinitis.

The left-hander was scheduled to start in this past weekend’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. In turn, the Orioles called up right-handed pitcher Thomas Eshelman from Triple-A Norfolk and replaced the injured Zimmermann on Friday night.

The Maryland native earned his spot on the five-man rotation during Spring Training, having been spoken highly of by Orioles manager Brandon Hyde during the team’s time in Sarasota.

“He’s pitched outstanding in camp,” Hyde told The Baltimore Sun sports reporter Nathan Ruiz. “Really feel like he’s had a really good spring training. He’s had some good starts here. He’s pitched outstanding on the backfield and in a B game and some other things that he’s done. I really like his stuff. This guy’s a four-pitch guy. He’s pounded the strike zone all spring. His velocity’s ticked up, his breaking balls have been sharper, and he’s healthy and ready to go. He’s earned it with how he pitched this spring, and we look forward to watching him pitch.”

This is a tough break for Zimmermann who was pitching well for the Orioles this season. In his last four starts, Zimmermann had a 3.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 23 Ks. Zimmermann started 11 games, playing in 12 total thus far with a 4-4 record. Over the full season, he had an ERA of 4.83, 1.475 WHIP, and 53 Ks.

This is not the first pitcher the Orioles lost to injury this season. On June 6, left-hander John Means was also placed on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder strain. Means was eligible to come off the list on Wednesday but remains on the IL.

Zimmermann being placed on the IL is not the only move the Orioles made on Friday. The team also designated catcher Chance Sisco for assignment.

With the Orioles’ top two pitchers down with injuries, the door is open for some of the team’s young pitching talent to get game experience at the Major League level.