If you didn’t watch last night’s Arizona Diamondbacks game you certainly weren’t alone. For much of the season the D-backs have played a largely unwatchable brand of baseball en route to their major league worst record of 37-80. But the brave few who dared tune into Arizona’s battle with the San Diego Padres last night were treated to perhaps one of the most improbable no hitters in MLB history.
In 2020 Arizona’s Tyler Gilbert wasn’t even playing baseball. After COVID virtually wiped out the minor league baseball season, Gilbert was working as electrician with his father to pay the bills. Fast forward to August 14th 2021 and suddenly he had thrown MLB’s 8th no hitter of the season in front of a raucous crowd in Phoenix.
Making the feat all the more remarkable was the fact that last night was Gilbert’s first start of his major league career. In the annals of baseball history only 4 other players can lay claim to that feat. Not since Bobo Holloman (man they sure knew how to name ‘em back in the day) threw a no-no in 1953 has a player making his first major league start done what Gilbert accomplished Saturday.
The no hitter now ties the 1884 MLB record for most no hitters in a season with roughly a quarter of the schedule still to go. 1884 was also the first year that overhand throws were allowed in baseball, ushering in a more familiar version of the game we see today.
Gilbert needed 102 pitches to complete the no hitter, capped off by a Tommy Pham fly out to Ketel Marte to end the ballgame. The 27 year old lefty was originally selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015 before having cups of coffee with the Dodgers organization and even the Dominican Professional Baseball League.
Gilbert’s father, mother, girlfriend and girlfriend’s parents were all in the stands to watch the game. For a team that hasn’t had much to cheer about in 2021, Gilbert’s performance may very well be the highlight of the season. Arizona and San Diego are back in action on Sunday at 4:10pm ET.