PHOENIX -- D-backs closer Brad Ziegler tweeted a pregame picture of his special Memorial Day uniform and was among the first players in the home clubhouse to put on his camouflage hat.
"It's obviously special to have a day to honor those who have fallen fighting for our country," Ziegler said. "If this is a way we can honor them in our workplace, obviously everybody's more than happy to do it and excited to do it. I obviously have got a special place in my heart for the military, and anything we can do to honor them, we're all over it."
This marks the eighth year in a row Major League Baseball and New Era have created a camouflage cap to wear on Memorial Day and the fourth straight year Majestic Athletic designed a matching uniform. This year's jerseys utilized a new woodland camouflage design licensed by the U.S. Marine Corps.
The D-backs honored the holiday in numerous ways before Monday's game against the Astros at Chase Field. There was a moment of silence, retired Petty Officer First Class Steven Powell performed the national anthem and Intel employees and their families presented a large flag on the field in honor of fellow Intel employees and their families who have served.
The stadium was covered in the traditional red, white and blue bunting, and the first 20,000 fans received a D-backs BBQ apron.
While Ziegler was pleased with his camouflage hat, jersey and cleats, Arizona's closer said he'd be excited to see even more ways to honor the military in Memorial Day games.
"It'd be cool to me if they had camo bats and stuff like that, as long as it wasn't too out of hand," Ziegler said.