Position players who made big impression on hill

The annals of great position-player pitching moments got another entry this past week.

Coming in to pitch in the bottom of the 16th inning Thursday night, the Orioles' Stevie Wilkerson retired the Angels in order -- this despite throwing no pitch faster than 56 mph -- to become the first position player in MLB history to record a save.

How does Wilkerson's performance stack up against some of the more memorable position-player pitching appearances in big league history? You be the judge.

Wade Boggs, Yankees
Aug. 19, 1997, at Angels

Boggs was one of the best hitters in Major League history, posting a lifetime .328 average with 3,010 hits in 18 seasons. Turns out, he could also throw a pretty mean knuckleball. With the Yankees trailing the Angels, 12-4, Boggs entered the game and fired a scoreless eighth inning, ending his appearance by fanning Todd Greene with a knuckler up in the zone.

Adam Dunn, White Sox
Aug. 5, 2014, vs. Rangers

Just months before he would call it a career, Dunn got to experience a big league first, logging his only pitching appearance. It was a sight to behold when the 6-foot-6, 285-pounder took the mound in a blowout loss to the Rangers and threw an inning, allowing one run on two hits and a walk but preventing further damage by getting Rougned Odor to fly out to left field with two on and two out.

Pablo Sandoval, Giants
April 28, 2018, vs Dodgers

With the Giants down, 15-6, in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Dodgers, manager Bruce Bochy called upon Sandoval to avoid expending any more relievers ahead of Game 2. Becoming the first position player to pitch for the Giants since Greg Litton in 1991, the "Kung Fu Panda" needed just 11 pitches to retire the side in order.

Ichiro Suzuki, Marlins
Oct. 4, 2015, at Phillies

In addition to his stellar bat skills and base-stealing acumen, Ichiro was known for his cannon of a right arm, and he was able to bring that to the mound on the final day of the 2015 regular season. Throwing as hard as 88.4 mph, the 41-year-old allowed a pair of doubles but retired the final two batters he faced to limit the damage to one run.

Best of the rest

Of course, those four are far from the only noteworthy position-player pitching appearances. These instances deserve some love as well.

Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
July 23, 2018, vs. D-backs

Rizzo had been lobbying Cubs manager Joe Maddon to pitch for years when he finally got his opportunity to do so in 2018, and he could barely contain his glee as he threw two pitches and got an out against Arizona. Watch >

John Baker, Cubs
July 29, 2014, vs. Rockies

Although he sat on the bench for the first 15 innings, Baker ultimately had a big hand in helping the Cubs defeat the Rockies. After tossing a scoreless 16th inning in relief of Pedro Strop, Baker led off the bottom of the frame with a walk and came around to score on Starlin Castro's sac fly, giving the catcher the distinction of earning the win and scoring the winning run in the same game. Watch >

Drew Butera, Dodgers
May 14, 2014, vs. Marlins

Butera has made six pitching appearances in his career, with the most impressive coming in 2014 against the Marlins. Butera set down Miami in order, and he capped the perfect frame by striking out Marcell Ozuna on three pitches. Watch >

Skip Schumaker, Dodgers
June 28, 2013, vs. Phillies

While Schumaker put three runners on base against the Phillies, he worked out of the jam by fanning Humberto Quintero and became the only Dodgers pitcher not to allow a run in this game. Watch >

Chris Davis, Orioles
May 6, 2012, at Red Sox

Davis had a forgettable day at the plate against the Red Sox, going 0-for-8 with five strikeouts, but his two innings on the mound undoubtedly left a lasting impression. Becoming Baltimore's ninth pitcher of the game when he took the ball in the bottom of the 16th, Davis held Boston scoreless in his first inning of work and did so again in the next frame to seal the win after the O's took the lead in the top of the 17th. Watch >

Wilson Valdez, Phillies
May 25, 2011, vs. Reds

The Phils emptied their bullpen in this marathon game against the Reds, and after Danys Baez threw five scoreless innings, Philadelphia turned to Valdez in the 19th. The veteran utility man hit a batter but retired the other three men he faced, and when the Phillies walked it off in the bottom of the 19th, Valdez became the first position player to earn a win since the Rockies' Brent Mayne in 2000. Watch >