Ryan Zimmerman injury: Nationals' third baseman scheduled to return Friday

Nationals' third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's scheduled rehab appearance for Class-A Potomac Tuesday night was rained out, but he could still return to the big league club on Friday.

Zimmerman, 28, has been on the disabled list since April 17 due to an injured hamstring. Friday is the first day that he would be eligible to be activated. Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said that the ultimate decision on whether the third baseman will return that day will be left to Zimmerman, reports The Washington Post.

The original plan was likely for Zimmerman to take two plate appearances on Tuesday, then three on Wednesday before returning to the big league club for a workout prior to being activated, according to the Washington Times. It's possible the Nationals could just skip his workout with the team on Thursday or have him take fewer at-bats in his rehab stint.

Zimmerman had been struggling at the plate prior to his injury. He had been hitting just .226 with a .670 OPS through his first 15 games. He also had fourteen strikeouts already.

The Nationals called up top prospect Anthony Rendon to replace Zimmerman at the hot corner. Rendon, rated the 30th best prospect in the nation by Baseball America prior to the season, did not hit great in his very brief stint with the team. He will likely be the player demoted when Zimmerman returns.