Zunino (shoulder) said Thursday that he feels symptom-free and believes he'll be fully cleared in advance of spring training after undergoing thoracic syndrome surgery July 28, Steve Carney of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Zunino won't return from the 60-day injured list in 2022, but he could be cleared to begin baseball activities in the weeks to come and may be in store for a relatively normal offseason if he experiences no setbacks in his recovery from surgery as the offseason unfolds. The 31-year-old will become a free agent this offseason, but he's made no secret that he would welcome a return to Tampa Bay if the interest is mutual. After making his first All-Star team in 2021 while slugging a career-high 33 home runs, Zunino took a step back offensively this season before being shut down due to the surgery. He slashed .148/.195/.304 with a 37.4 percent strikeout rate across 123 plate appearances.