Zimmerman seeks August return

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By Ben Goessling

In a season in which bad news about injuries seems to arrive every day, the Washington Nationals received a piece of encouraging news Tuesday. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman took batting practice for the first time since he went on the disabled list June 3, saying afterward he felt only minor discomfort in his left shoulder and that he likely would take another BP session Wednesday.

If he continues to progress, he could go on a rehab assignment during next week's All-Star break and return to the Nationals in early August.

"I've been swinging for the last couple weeks. I guess getting out on the field is the next step," Zimmerman said. "The ultimate goal is to get out and play."

The 23-year-old hit several balls to the warning track and banged one shot off the left-field foul pole at Nationals Park. Afterward, both he and manager Manny Acta said they were happy Zimmerman could drive the ball.

"He's probably not letting it fly 100 percent, but I liked what I saw," Acta said.

Zimmerman said he has a "buffer zone" until the end of August to see whether he can come back or would need surgery on the labral tear in his left shoulder.

An operation is still unlikely, but if Zimmerman were to have surgery, a late August appointment would give him enough time to recover and be ready for spring training.

"It's kind of a no-brainer to try and come back without the surgery," he said. "If I can make it to the offseason and give it some time to heal on its own, that'd be good."

Cordero has surgery

Reliever Chad Cordero, who is out for the season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, had successful surgery in Southern California on Tuesday.

Dr. Lewis Yocum found fraying partial tearing of the labrum and cartilage in the back of the shoulder, as well as a torn biceps, according to Nationals team doctor Ben Shaffer.

Shaffer said Yocum put a plastic anchor in the back top corner of Cordero's shoulder to reinforce the cartilage in his labrum. Cordero will start throwing in four months, and Shaffer said the reliever is expected to be ready for spring training.

"It really depends on how he progresses," Shaffer said. "Some people, over the course of three or four months, get up on their game. Whether he takes longer is an individual issue. I wouldn't tell you to lock in that date.... Dr. Yocum conveyed that [Cordero's] rotator cuff is pristine, and so prognostically you have to think it´s a pretty favorable outcome."

A variety of shoulder ailments allowed Cordero, who had saved 113 games for the Nationals the past three seasons, to pitch just six games this season.

Dukes' surgery set

Outfielder Elijah Dukes, who suffered a torn meniscus and partial tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee while making a running catch Saturday against the Reds, will have surgery Wednesday.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and the Nationals recalled Kory Casto from Class AAA Columbus. Dukes is expected to miss four to six weeks.