When Michael Jordan uttered the phrase “I’m back”, you knew it was over for the league.
Fast-forward 27 years and Bradley Zimmer is claimed off waivers once again by the Blue Jays. This is our “I’m back moment”.
Zimmer has been like a giraffe playing with a baseball bat this season. Not very useful. But he runs like a cheetah and makes impressive plays in the outfield like a dog in one of those famous dog shows.
His .130/.216/.250 slash line with two homers in 103 plate appearances doesn’t stand out, but he’s in the 95th percentile in Sprint Speed according to Baseball Savant. Moreover, he has a 4 Defensive Runs Saved and 2 Outs Above Average in centre field this season.
Bradley Zimmer was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on August 18th to make room for Jackie Bradley Jr. In his 12 plate appearances (which is about as much he got with the Jays from July to when he was designated for assignment), he slashed .250/.250/.313 with a 25 K%, down from his season K% of 35.9.
Furthermore, in just 48 innings in centre field for the Phillies, Zimmer accumulated 3 defensive runs saved, which is actually quite impressive.
It is to be foreseen what will happen with Zimmer. Will be outrighted to the minors once again? Will he be claimed by a different team who’ll actually give him the opportunity he deserves? (he has legit power). Will he be placed on the 26-man roster of the Toronto Blue Jays and be the hero in the postseason, making a spectacular catch or hitting an unexpected 12th inning home run when the Jays have emptied their bench?
The script writes itself, and the first step in the script is that Bradley Zimmer has come back home.
me on Twitter @Brennan_L_D. I swear if the Jays had given the same opportunities to Zimmer as they have to Bradley Jr, Zimmer wouldn’t have been DFA’ed.
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