PHOENIX (AP) -Brad Ziegler wanted to be an Olympian last summer. Playing for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic in March will be a satisfying substitute.
Ziegler learned late Tuesday that he made the American roster, realizing a lifelong dream to play for his country.
“I’ve wanted this opportunity for a long time,” Ziegler said Wednesday. “I campaigned to get on the Olympic team last year but then I was called up. To have the opportunity to wear the stars and stripes, and play with some of the elite names in baseball, is just incredible.”
Oakland manager Bob Geren thinks Ziegler’s participation will only help his progress as a top reliever.
“An experience like that is good for anybody,” Geren said. “The intensity of those games are a little higher than spring training games.”
Players will report to training camp in Clearwater, Florida, on March 1 for a brief camp and three exhibition games before meeting Canada on March 7 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
osphere in March.”
At this time last year, Ziegler was barely on anybody’s radar. He was struggling to continue his transition to reliever from starter and recovering from a fractured skull.
Ziegler began the season at Triple-A Sacramento and made his major league debut, at the age of 28, May 31 and its been a whirlwind ever since.
He started his big league career with a 39-inning scoreless streak, which set three records and tied another.
His 1.06 ERA was the lowest by an A’s pitcher with at least 50 innings pitched since Dennis Eckersley’s 0.61 in 1990, and the second lowest in franchise history since 1913.
“Everything happened so fast that I haven’t had time to sit down and think about the magnitude of all this,” he said. “As long as I’m still doing it, though, it’s OK.”
Ziegler did get a sense of his place in history when he brought his family to visit the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown during the offseason.
His shoes and the game ball were on display, accompanied by a plaque proclaiming: “Oakland A’s reliever Brad Ziegler wore these spikes in an appearance against the Texas Rangers on July 27, 2008, when he set a Major League record for consecutive scoreless innings to start a career. The ball comes from the record-setting inning which broke the old mark of 25 set by George McQuillan in 1907. Ziegler’s record finally ended at 39 innings.”
s on Italy’s provisional roster and will likely be officially named to the team when WBC rosters become official. … 1B Daric Barton, recovered from a hip injury, will have no limitations placed on him during workouts. That will be reevaluated when games start. … The A’s agreed to terms on one-year contracts with nine players: Ziegler, LHP Jerry Blevins, RHP Santiago Casilla, RHP Joey Devine, RHP Joe Gray, IF Eric Patterson, IF Gregorio Petit, OF Chris Denorfia, OF Javier Herrera. … The A’s hope to have RHP Edgar Gonzalez and C Joel Galarraga in camp by the weekend. They are still dealing with visa issues in Mexico. “Edgar pitched in winter ball so he’s not behind,” Geren said. “It hurts Joel more because he needs to get through the drill.” … 1B Jason Giambi was not in camp by the end of the day Wednesday, reporting day for all players. He is expected in time to participate in the team’s first full workout Thursday morning.
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