D-backs' Brad Ziegler joins elite company after pitching in 500 games

Among the list of players with the lowest career ERAs, who have pitched at least 500 games, are Hall of Famers like Christy Matthewson and Walter Johnson as well as contemporary legends like Mariano Rivera. Diamondbacks relief pitcher Brad Ziegler actually ranks among the top ten in this group, notes the Arizona Republic.

Ziegler recently pitched in his 500th game, and his 2.49 ERA puts him eighth on the list. To put Ziegler’s ERA in perspective, there have been 367 pitchers in baseball history to pitch in at least 500 games, according to Baseball Reference.

Ziegler has obviously flown under the radar on this. Perhaps it’s because he plays for the D-backs. Perhaps it’s because the right-hander has a funky side-arm delivery. Or perhaps it’s because he’s not a flame-thrower or even a closer like most high-profile relievers. The 35-year-old only has 43 career saves and a 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings ratio. The Republic compared him to some of his more high-profile peers, and Ziegler said:

"Guys like Craig Kimbrel or Fernando Rodney, they're known for striking guys out," Ziegler said. "They come into the game and music is playing and fire is going around the stadium. It's just a different persona. I don't have that mentality.”

Even without the frills, Ziegler has a 1.50 ERA in 30 innings and has saved 10 games for the D-backs this season.

(h/t Arizona Republic)