If the first 10 starts of Reid Detmers’ MLB career were unremarkable, the 11th was historic.
On Tuesday, the rookie lefthander tossed the 12th no-hitter in Angels history and first solo no-hitter in the league this season for a Los Angeles team that is leading the AL West.
Detmers is no household name and is only making $710,000 this season, but he was selected 10th overall in 2020 — and got a $4.67 million signing bonus for a reason.
- He is the 25th rookie in MLB history to toss a no-hitter.
- He had never gone longer than six innings in his big-league career.
- At 22 years and 306 days old, he’s the youngest pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Anibal Sanchez in 2006 (22, 191 days).
- Detmers entered the game with a 6.33 career ERA, third-highest at the time of throwing a no-hitter since earned runs became official in 1913 (Wilson Alvarez’s infinity in 1991, Bobo Holloman’s 8.44 in ’53), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
A productive bargain like Detmers has provided vital support for ace Shohei Ohtani on a pitching staff that ranks fifth in the AL in ERA (3.39) and second in WHIP (1.10) and opponents batting average (.213).
Coupled with an offense that leads MLB in home runs (55), slugging (.432), and OPS (.760), the Angels (21-11) have snagged the 11th-best odds (+2200) to win a first World Series since 2002.