OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Brad Ziegler received a bit more recognition for his record-setting season.
The Oakland Athletics honored their right-handed reliever before the game Friday night against the Minnesota Twins. The 28-year-old Ziegler tied the major league mark for relievers by pitching 39 straight shutout innings to start his career, having his streak stopped by Tampa Bay earlier this month.
He also set three other records. And that’s quite a deal for someone who has twice fractured his skull, started this season in Triple-A and nearly asked for his release when things weren’t going his way. Then, he made his major league debut for the A’s on May 31.
“It’s pretty amazing,” Ziegler said with a grin.
hoto plaque from manager Bob Geren.
Virtually unknown before this season, Ziegler has made a national name for himself with his effective submarine delivery and reliable arm late in games. He was recently promoted to closer, in place of struggling 2005 AL Rookie of the Year Huston Street.
He had 11 family members in a Coliseum suite Friday for the special night.
The A’s waited until now to honor Ziegler, fearing anything earlier might be a jinx.
“They were hesitant to do it while it was going on,” he said. “I don’t believe in that stuff.”
Yet he does believe in the No. 3. Ziegler wore uniform No. 47 in spring training this year and again for the first week after he got called up before he switched to his current 31. But the nameplate above his locker remained 47 because superstitious equipment manager Steve Vucinich figured he didn’t dare change it during Ziegler’s streak – even though the new nameplate was done and already in the clubhouse waiting.
“I’ve always liked things with the No. 3 in them,” Ziegler said. “And No. 31 was the round the A’s drafted me in. It always reminds me I wasn’t a high draft pick.”
And Ziegler was asked to switch his pitching style and move to the bullpen if he wanted to one day reach the big leagues. He’s arrived, all right.
When he extended his string to 27 scoreless innings in July, that broke a 101-year-old mark.
This past January, Ziegler fractured his skull for the second time in three years.
He had finished working at youth baseball camp in Springfield, Mo., and was throwing hard with a friend from 120 feet. Suddenly, a kid jumped out and tried to catch the ball – instead, it deflected off the boy’s glove, hit Ziegler square in the middle of his forehead and opened a bloody gash.
Released by the Philadelphia organization at the end of spring training in 2004, he spent a few months in the independent Northern League before signing with Oakland in June. That September, while playing in Class A, he was hit in the right temple by a line drive off the bat of current Giants outfielder Fred Lewis.
All of that seems like history now. In his modest, friendly fashion, he’s rolling with the success and taking it all in stride.
He adds more about his preference for No. 3.
“I always liked bands with three people in them. I’m into music and the arts,” he said. “On stage, three always seems to have a good balance to it.”
Add A Comment