SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The game was in front of no more than 50 onlookers and it was against San Francisco Giants minor leaguers. None of that made it less significant to Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Ziegler, who on Wednesday made his first appearance in a game since he had microfracture surgery on his left knee in September.
"I had trouble sleeping last night, really excited," he said. "It just felt really good to get the first pitch out of the way."
The D-backs used the 'B' game to get a first look at Ziegler and the third look of starter Daniel Hudson. Neither veteran, both of whom are recovering from injury, had a setback.
While sitting in the mid-80s on his pitches and finding the strike zone well, Ziegler's fielding was the bigger question mark.
Ziegler replaced Hudson in the third inning, getting through one inning with two strikeouts and a grounder that went toward first base. The play required Ziegler to cover the bag, and it took a split-second for him to run over from the mound. He got there just in time.
"The last time we did the drills with him, I was the guy running to first," said Arizona manager Chip Hale. "He had a little better challenge this time; the guy was a little faster."
Ziegler said the knee hasn't been an issue, but it was good for him to go through the motions of making a routine play.
"Just to get it out of the way, you know, the first time I get to field a bunt, that'll be the next test. Not only does it involve stopping, but bending down, too," the pitcher said.
"I was just trying to work on some stuff, just trying to get another outing under my belt," Hudson said. "The arm feels good. Like I say every time, we'll see how it feels the next couple days and go from there."
Hudson remains in the mix to start and said he could begin thinking about increasing his pitch count above 45 if he recovers well in the next few days. He's not rushing anything and doesn't feel pressure to increase his workload.
"I got plenty of time," he said.
The time on the Diamondbacks' decision-making clock isn't pressing to Hale, but he knows that the starting rotation and bullpen will take on a different look depending on which group includes Hudson come Opening Day.
"I think if he feels good tomorrow, then I think it is more realistic" to believe Hudson again can be a starter, Hale said. "We are getting closer to that point."
That could potentially influence the D-backs' decisions as they make a second round of cuts on Sunday.
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