Brad Ziegler underwent microfracture knee surgery in September after pitching through the injury for most of the season and the Diamondbacks reliever is on track to be recovered at some point in April.
Ziegler, who posted a 3.49 ERA in 67 innings despite the knee problems, told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com:
It’s going well. Dr. [Michael] Lee told me that as far as the microfracture surgeries he’s done, I’m further along at the point that I’m at than anyone else that he’s been checking up on. So I guess that means ahead of schedule. Hopefully I’ll be ready for Opening Day, but if not, barring a setback, it should be shortly after that.
Ziegler has been playing catch overhand, but has yet to do any throwing from his submarine delivery to test how his knee holds up. With a 2.56 career ERA, including a sub-3.50 ERA in all seven of his seasons--Ziegler is a big part of Arizona’s bullpen.