Michael Kopech was immaculate for the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
The flame-throwing reliever made MLB history by closing out the Minnesota Twins’ account in the first leg of a doubleheader, pitching a flawless inning in the ninth inning of a 3-1 victory. A flawless inning is when a pitcher strikes out all three batters in one inning on nine total pitches.
Kopech’s three victims were Brooks Lee, Matt Wallner and Max Kepler.
The immaculate entrance was Number 116 in MLB historymaking the feat rarer than a no-hitter or a cycle, and only the second in White Sox history. The only other Chicago pitcher to throw an immaculate inning was the immaculately named Sloppy Thurston on Aug. 22, 1923.
The most recent pitcher to throw one in MLB was Johan Oviedo of the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 24 of last season.
Here is the full mix of Kopech’s achievement:
• 97.3 mph fastball (foul)
• 90.1 mph cutter (missing)
• 100.1 mph fastball (called a strike)
• 98.4 mph fastball (strike with swing)
• 91.5 mph cutter (missing)
• 100.5 mph fastball (strike with swing)
• 91.1 mph cutter (swinging strike)
• 90.0 mph cutter (called strike)
• 100.1 mph fastball (strike with swing)
The accomplishment is fitting for Kopech, who was once among baseball’s top prospects because of his triple-digit batting average. He never became what the White Sox hoped when they acquired him and others in the Chris Sale trade, mostly because of nagging injuries and control issues, but there was no doubt about his potential to make hitters look ridiculous.
After two years of trying to make Kopech work as a starter, the White Sox moved him to the bullpen this season. Through Wednesday, he had a 5.18 ERA and can now say he has accomplished something very few pitchers have.