Pitcher Throws Perfect 9-Pitch Inning in Arizona Debut

Michael Soroka's first game in an Arizona Diamondbacks uniform became an instant classic when he threw a perfect nine-pitch inning against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.

The 28-year-old pitcher struck out Javier Báez, Kerry Carpenter, and Gleyber Torres on nine consecutive pitches in the fifth inning. He capped the rare achievement by blowing a 95 mph fastball past Torres, earning what's called an "immaculate inning" in baseball.

"It was pretty special," Soroka told reporters after the game. "I tried to play it off, but started smiling on the field."

Only three other Diamondbacks pitchers have ever accomplished this feat: Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 2001, Byung-Hyun Kim in 2002, and Wade Miley in 2012. Soroka's perfect inning helped Arizona secure a 9-6 victory at Chase Field, as he finished with five shutout innings and a career-high 10 strikeouts.

Why This Inspires

What makes Soroka's performance truly remarkable is the journey that brought him here. The former All-Star suffered back-to-back Achilles injuries starting in 2020 that kept him off the field for nearly three full seasons.

After his breakout 2019 season with the Atlanta Braves, Soroka bounced between the Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs, searching for his comeback. The Diamondbacks took a chance on him with a one-year, $7.5 million contract this offseason.

His Opening Day performance showed that faith was well-placed. Soroka didn't just return to form. He achieved something most pitchers never experience in their entire careers.

The veteran pitcher admitted he usually doesn't put much stock in single-game results, but this moment was different. This one was worth celebrating.

Arizona found a gem in a pitcher who refused to give up on his dream, even after injuries that end many careers.