4 Bradley Zimmer RF

Zimmer was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

As expected, Zimmer -- who is healthy for the first time in over a year -- will head to Triple-A to begin the season. He's expected to get back up to game speed with regular playing time in the minors before ultimately returning to Cleveland.

Zimmer is healthy for the first time in over one year, but he'll likely need to get regular playing time at Triple-A Columbus before reaching the majors again, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Indians had requested Zimmer to play winter ball this offseason. However, he declined, opting to instead rest his body after rehabbing his right shoulder for nearly 18 months. As a result, he'll need to get extra reps to regain his timing, and his one remaining minor-league option makes it likely he won't be on the Opening Day roster. His rust showed, as he struck out 10 times in 26 exhibition plate appearances, though four of his five hits did go for extra bases.

Zimmer went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI in his first game of spring training.

He has essentially had lost seasons in 2018 and 2019 due to injuries after making his big-league debut and playing 101 games for the Indians in 2017. Zimmer owns a career 32.6 percent strikeout rate and 7.4 percent walk rate and is entering his age-27 season, so even at full health, it's hard to be overly optimistic that he is ready to have consistent success against MLB pitching. He has minor-league options remaining, so the Indians will likely send him to Triple-A to start the season so that he can get into a rhythm.

Zimmer was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

Zimmer is finally ready for his first big-league action since undergoing shoulder surgery last July. He recorded a strong .309/.407/.559 slash line over 22 games in the minors. The 26-year-old's career .237/.300/.370 slash line in 135 big-league games isn't particularly impressive, though he does have 22 steals and could potentially help fantasy owners down the stretch in that category if he's able to carve out a bit of playing time.

The Indians are expected to promote Zimmer to the major-league roster Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Right-hander James Karinchak is on his way to bolster the team's bullpen depth, and it sounds like Zimmer will be with him after Triple-A Columbus captured the Governors' Cup with a win over Durham on Thursday. Zimmer played a big part in that win, hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning. If he is indeed rewarded with a callup, it will mark the culmination of Zimmer's long road back from July 2018 shoulder surgery. Zimmer has speed and pedigree, and he may play a fair amount in the outfield right away against right-handed pitching.

Zimmer (side) was activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

Zimmer has battled side and shoulder issues all season. He's hit .333/.412/.600 in 12 minor-league games thus far. He's a strong candidate to be called up shortly after rosters expand once he's gotten a chance to shake off some rust with Columbus.

Zimmer (side) will advance his rehab to Triple-A Columbus on Monday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Zimmer has been sidelined all season with shoulder and side injuries but is finally nearly ready to return to Cleveland. He appears to be on track to return in September, though it's not clear what his role will be.

Zimmer (side) will continue his rehab assignment with Double-A Akron early next week, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Zimmer has been sidelined for the entirety of the season as he deals with shoulder and side injuries, but he appears to be progressing toward a return to the major-league club. The 26-year-old is likely still a few weeks from a return to the majors, but it's encouraging to see his rehab progress so quickly after resuming live game action Saturday.

Zimmer (side) started in center field and went 1-for-2 with a home run Tuesday in a rehab appearance for the Indians' rookie-level Arizona League affiliate.

After serving as a designated hitter in his first rehab outing Sunday, Zimmer received the green light to play his first defensive innings in affiliated ball since June 10, 2018. Zimmer's recovery from shoulder surgery has kept him off the field for much of the past 14 months, but it's a side issue that cropped up during spring training that remains the primary focus of his rehab program. Due to the extensive time he's missed, Zimmer will likely require a full 20-day rehab stint before being activated from the 60-day injured list.

Zimmer (side) will play for the Arizona League Indians on Saturday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Zimmer has finally been cleared to return to game action, though he'll serve as the designated hitter Saturday. He'll then be tasked with playing the outfield at some point next week. Considering Zimmer has been on the shelf since spring training, he'll need a lengthy stay in the minors before being activated from the injured list.

Zimmer (side) is progressing from a recent setback in his recovery from a strained side muscle and recently resumed throwing to bases at the Indians' spring training facility in Arizona, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports.

Though he no longer seems to be affected by the surgery he required on his shoulder last June, Zimmer has been inhibited by the side issue since the spring and has yet to appear in even a minor-league rehab game this season. The Indians seem optimistic that he may be able to play in simulated or even minor-league games in the weeks to come, but the outfielder might have already run out of time to make a potential return to the big club in 2019.

Zimmer (side) remains without a timetable for his return, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Zimmer recently suffered a setback in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, though he has since resumed throwing to 60 feet and is hitting with no issues. The outfielder will continue to ramp up his activities at the team's spring training facilities until he's cleared to begin a rehab assignment, at which point a timetable for his return should emerge.

Zimmer (side) will remain in Arizona for the rest of the week before potentially beginning a rehab assignment, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Zimmer has been dealing with shoulder and side injuries all season. Six days ago, it was reported that the outfielder was five or six days away from a rehab assignment, but that timeline was evidently optimistic, as he remains a similar length of time away from heading to Triple-A Columbus.

Zimmer (side) is set to play the outfield in extended spring training games in Arizona for the next 5-to-6 days before reporting to Triple-A Columbus for a rehab assignment, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Zimmer has been out all season while recovering from shoulder surgery as well as battling side soreness. He served as the designated hitter in some extended spring games over the weekend without issue and will take another step forward by getting in some defensive work. Given the length of his absence, he'll probably be in store for an extended rehab stint at Columbus before being formally activated from the 10-day injured list.

Zimmer (side) will serve as designated hitter in extended spring training games over the weekend, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Zimmer has been sidelined all season with a side injury he suffered at the end of spring training, so he'll likely need to play in a good amount of rehab games before being cleared to rejoin the big-league club.

Zimmer is still in Arizona rehabbing a side injury that he suffered at the end of spring training, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Zimmer sustained the injury while making a throw to a base near the end of March, and he's only been cleared to take dry cuts at this point. It looks as though he's at least a couple weeks away from a return given his lack of progress.

Zimmer's (shoulder) rehab program has been slowed down after he incurred some side soreness last weekend, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

The Indians had been optimistic that Zimmer would be ready to report to an affiliate when the minor-league season begins during the upcoming week, but the new injury likely puts those plans on hold. Instead, Zimmer is expected to remain at extended spring training and receive more oversight as he continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery. The outfielder appears unlikely to return from the 10-day injured list for at least a few more weeks.

The Indians placed Zimmer (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Zimmer only recently returned to action in minor-league games after he had been sidelined since last June following shoulder surgery, so he'll need additional time at extended spring training to pick up steady at-bats and outfield work. The Indians haven't outlined a timeline for Zimmer to join the big club, but once that happens, he could settle into a starting role in an outfield lacking in high-end options.

Zimmer (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

This was expected, as Zimmer has been behind schedule all spring while working his way back from right shoulder surgery. It remains to be seen how long the outfielder will spend on the shelf, but once he's ready, Zimmer should assume a prominent role in the Indians' outfield.

Zimmer (shoulder) played in a minor-league spring training game Wednesday, T.J. Zuppe of The Athletic reports.

This was a huge step for Zimmer, who saw his first game action since June of 2018. He was very proud and defiant about the fact that he made it back to game action, but it still seems likely that he will be held back in extended spring training and open the year on the injured list. Once he is ready, he should assume a prominent role in the Indians' outfield, but he hit .226 with a 38.6 percent strikeout rate in 114 MLB plate appearances last season, so he is far from a lock to be a productive fantasy option.