Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Cubs rookie Hayden Wesneski pitches immaculate inning against Pirates

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 9/22/22

Chicago Cubs rookie right-hander Hayden Wesneski pitched 6.1 strong innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.

While Wesneski can take pride in his quality start, there's one inning he's likely to remember for the rest of his life. In the top of the fifth inning, Wesneski dominated the Pirates, throwing nine pitches to record three strikeouts, better known as an "immaculate inning."

immaculate inning

9 pitches, 3 Ks for Hayden Wesneski! pic.twitter.com/7fKtoY7Bkt
— MLB (@MLB) September 23, 2022

The inning began with Wesneski striking out Jack Suwinski and Zack Collins looking before getting Jason Delay to swing over an 82.4 mph slider.

Wesneski is the sixth pitcher to throw an immaculate inning this year, and just the second player from the National League, joining Ryan Helsley of the St. Louis Cardinals.

It's the fifth immaculate inning in Cubs history and the first since LaTroy Hawkins accomplished the feat in 2004. Wesneski joins Hawkins, Lynn McGlothen (1979), Bruce Sutter (1977) and Milt Pappas (1971) as the only Cubs to throw a flawless inning.

Complete list of known Immaculate Innings by Cubs pitcher:

*Hayden Wesneski, today
*LaTroy Hawkins, Sept. 11, 2004
*Lynn McGlothen, Aug. 25, 1979
*Bruce Sutter, Sept. 8, 1977
*Milt Pappas, Sept. 24, 1971

Team records on it scarce from 1889-1914;info via team historian Ed Hartig
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) September 23, 2022

Drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, the Cubs acquired Wesneski in exchange for reliever Scott Effross on August 1.

The 24-year-old is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA over 22.0 innings for the Cubs this season.

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