Ryan Zimmerman injury: Nationals third baseman undergoes MRI

Zimmerman hoped he could return to action today, but was held out of his second straight game.

By Connor Moylan Apr 20, 2013, 6:00pm EDT

Washington Nationals third baseman underwent an MRI today and missed his second straight game with a sore left hamstring. Zimmerman had originally hoped to return to action in his team's game against the New York Mets on Saturday, but underwent tests today instead.

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National manger Davey Johnson has not seen the results, but does not expect that Zimmerman will need to spend any time on the disabled list. General Manager Mike Rizzo echoed similar sentiments, but said that they would wait to see the final test results before making any firm decisions.

Zimmerman said that his hamstring first started bothering him last week against the Atlanta Braves, and he aggravated the injury on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. Zimmerman tweaked his hamstring making a running throw, and was forced to exit the game following the play.

The third baseman spent time on the disabled list each of the past two seasons. He needed surgery on a torn abdominal muscle in 2011, and went on the 15-day DL last season with an inflamed shoulder joint.

Zimmerman is off to a quiet start to the season, hitting .226/.311/.385 in 61 plate appearances. Zimmerman has a reputation for being a strong defensive third baseman, but his throwing mechanics have come under fire after making four errors this season.