What Is an Immaculate Inning in Baseball?

California Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan is shown in action, Oct. 1975.
(AP Photo)
  • An immaculate inning is a rare baseball achievement.
  • Only 115 have been thrown in MLB history.
  • Immaculate innings are becoming more common.

An immaculate inning requires an exceptionally dominant pitching performance. 

Pitchers among the baseball betting favourites for the Cy Young at the BetMGM online sportsbook often have the combination of elite stuff and command to record an immaculate inning.

What Is an Immaculate Inning in Baseball?

An immaculate inning is when a pitcher throws nine pitches, nine strikes, and three strikeouts in an inning. Foul balls count towards an immaculate inning, but the ball cannot be put in play.

With pitchers throwing harder and getting more movement on their pitchers, immaculate innings have become more common. There were 37 immaculate innings in the 2010s, which smashed the previous record of 15 in the 2000s. 

How Many Immaculate Innings Have There Been in MLB?

There have been a total of 115 immaculate innings in MLB history. 

Only seven pitchers have thrown more than one immaculate inning. Sandy Koufax, Max Scherzer, and Chris Sale achieved the rare feat on three occasions, while Lefty Grove, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, and Kevin Gausman have done it twice apiece.

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