Mariners call-up came painfully close to MLB history in first-career start
Seattle Mariners' call-up Easton McGee came painfully close to making epic MLB history Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
McGee dazzled against Toronto, coming only seven outs short of joining the shortlist of pitchers to the rare feat of throwing a no-hitter in their first Major League start.
Only four pitchers have thrown a no-hitter in their first professional outing. Tyler Gilbert of the Arizona Diamondbacks was the last pitcher to do it back in 2021, joining Bobo Holman (1953), Bumpus Jones (1892), and Theodore Breitenstein (1891).
McGee was perfect through four innings and carried a no-no into the seventh. However, with two outs, Matt Chapman laced a double off the centerfield wall, ending McGee's no-hit bid after 6.2 innings.
The 25-year-old posted only two strikeouts on the day but was incredibly economical on the mound. Heading into the fourth, McGee had thrown only 20 pitches, needing only 10 to retire the Blue Jays in order in back-to-back innings in the second and third.
McGee exited the game after throwing 64 pitches, 45 for strikes.
Saturday may have been McGee's first start in the Majors, but it wasn't his first appearance in an MLB uniform. McGee made his pro debut in 2022 for the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing an unearned run off four hits in three innings of work against the Houston Astros.
Initially a fourth-round pick by the Rays in the 2016 MLB Draft, Tampa Bay placed McGee on waivers three days after his debut. After being claimed by the Boston Red Sox, the Mariners purchased McGee's contract in November.
McGee's been solid over five starts with the Tacoma Rainiers, going 3-0 with a 3.14 ERA through 28.2 innings pitched.
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