Baseball is full of semi-random accomplishments. Throwing a no-hitter or a perfect game, hitting for the cycle, or turning a triple play are a few.
Another, less talked about feat, is the immaculate inning. An immaculate inning is when a hitter strikes out all three batters in an inning on nine pitches. 107 pitchers have thrown 118 immaculate innings in Major League history.
On Monday, Boston Red Sox prospect Hayden Mullins accomplished the feat for Double-A Portland.
Although the immaculate inning is less prestigious than a no-hitter, it’s actually less common. It’s also rarer than hitting for the cycle, but it happens more frequently than the perfect game.
Mullins, a left-handed pitcher, has been impressive for Portland this season. He’s made seven starts and posted a 2.51 ERA. He’s struck out 29.4% of hitters, although his walk rate is high at 15.9%.
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The immaculate innings came in the bottom of the third inning. The lefty had three called strikes and six swinging strikes.
The last Red Sox pitcher to throw an immaculate inning was Chris Sale, in August 2021. Sale threw three immaculate innings over his six seasons in Boston.
Rick Porcello, Craig Kimbrel, and Clay Bucholz are other notable pitchers who struck out the side on nine pitches for the Red Sox.
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