Lately Ryan Zimmerman looked like a shell of his old self. The powerful third baseman didn’t look like the same Ryan Zimmerman who was signed to a $100 million dollar deal in the off season. Zimmerman’s numbers hit a new low and he became mired in the worst slump of his career. In his last 10 games he’s hitting .150. For the season he’s hitting .223. Speculation was thrown around until he admitted that his shoulder was still bothering him.

Yet in yesterday’s 2-1 loss to the Orioles, Zimmerman began to show glimpses of a healthy Zim. The third baseman went 2-4 and hit his first RBI in 11 games. Earlier before the game, he had received a cortisone shot in his ailing right shoulder. The shot eliminated pain from inflammation in his AC joint and Zimmerman plans to  undergo the shots throughout the season when necessary in order to avoid the disabled list.

However, by receiving shots throughout the course of the season, it could lead to off season shoulder surgery which would shut him down for four to six weeks.

For now, the shot helped and he’s beginning to feel like himself again with the pain eliminated.

“He looked like the old Zim. He swung the bat with authority, That’s a great sign. He seemed a lot free,” manager Davey Johnson said.

In other news:

• Ryan Zimmerman will be honored with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. The award is presented to the major league player who best exemplifies the character of a hall of famer on and off the field. Zimmerman’s been a cornerstone player for the Nationals since their formation in 2005. In addition, he started the ziMS Foundation, which raises money for multiple sclerosis, the disease his mother has. Previous recipients of the award have been Derek Jeter, and Albert Pujols.
• Mark DeRosa has been activated off the disabled list. To make room for DeRosa’s return Xavier Nady has been put on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right wrist. With this move, Nady is the 15th National player placed on the DL this season.