"The Washington Nationals have missed their best player for more than two months. They've missed the buzz in the crowd when Ryan Zimmerman charges a slow-rolling groundball and whips a sidearm throw across the infield, the steadiness he provides in their clubhouse, the fear from the opposing dugout that he might walk to the plate in the ninth inning with the game in the balance.

They are on the brink of having all of that for the first time in 58 games, but there is also something simpler that they have been missing. "It's just having Zim," Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond said. "It's like missing your brother for the whole season."

The Nationals will activate Zimmerman off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after he missed 58 games, all but eight games of the season thus far. The Nationals kept afloat without Zimmerman, going 27-31, but they know what he means.

"A game-changer," infielder Alex Cora said. Starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann admitted he's been following Zimmerman's minor league rehab box scores. Right fielder Jayson Werth called Zimmerman's return "a shot in the arm." Manager Jim Riggleman has likened Zimmerman's to acquiring a star player in a trade.

Zimmerman last played April 9, when he slid into second base and felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He underwent surgery May 3 to repair a torn abdominal muscle. For the past week, he skipped around three minor league outposts. Finally, he is back where he wants to be, and the Nationals feel whole again. "