Jordan Zimmermann Injury: Updates on Tigers Star's Groin and Return

Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann suffered a Grade 1 right groin strain on May 22 against the Tampa Bay Rays. However, he has been cleared to return to the mound.

Continue for updates.

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Zimmermann Active vs. White Sox

Friday, June 3

The Tigers announced Zimmermann will start against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

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Tigers Regain Top Starter

After spending the first seven seasons of his MLB career with the Washington Nationals, Zimmermann signed a free-agent deal with Detroit prior to the 2016 season. He is dominating this year—to the tune of a 6-2 record and 2.52 ERA prior to the injury.

The Tigers brought in the 29-year-old to join the top of the rotation after they dealt David Price at last year's trade deadline. The team's pitch in free agency appealed to him, per Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press.

"The Tigers made me their No. 1 priority," he said. "That felt good."

While Zimmermann enjoyed a solid 2015, going 13-10 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, it was a down year by his standards. In 2014, he went 14-5 with a 2.66 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 182 strikeouts in 199.2 innings. In his first five seasons, he had compiled a 3.40 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 692.2 innings.

One thing Detroit likely didn't expect when it signed Zimmermann was injury concerns, as he has been one of the majors' most consistent and reliable starters over the past handful of seasons. From 2012 through 2015, he made at least 32 starts each year.

One of Zimmermann's greatest strengths is his durability. Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2009, he has largely been healthy and this injury was uncharacteristic. 

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