Here are 13 of the most unlikely no-hitters

A no-hitter is a mark of rare dominance on the mound, but history has shown you don’t need to be an elite pitcher to throw one, or even pitching well in the games leading up to it. All it takes is one day when the stars align and everything goes right.

There have been many out-of-the-blue no-nos thrown by pitchers with otherwise unremarkable careers, and some have come to look even more unlikely based on ensuing events.

These are some of the most surprising no-hitters ever.

Ronel Blanco, Astros
April 1, 2024 vs. Blue Jays
Entering his first start of the 2024 season, the 30-year-old Blanco had only made seven career starts, with career numbers including a 4.78 ERA, 5.91 FIP, and 1.53 WHIP -- not exactly numbers that signal a no-hitter is on the way. But with Justin Verlander, José Urquidy, Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. all simultaneously on the IL, Houston decided to give Blanco a shot to open the season as the team's fifth starter, and the rest was history. Blanco dominated the Toronto lineup in a 105-pitch effort, with George Springer (two walks) being the only runner to reach base. Making Blanco's path even more unlikely is that he didn't even begin pitching until age 18, and he was only discovered by an Astros scout because he simultaneously was at a workout that featured Julio Rodríguez. And, remarkably, Blanco wasn't even the only underdog who made history on this night. This was Joe Espada's first win as an MLB manager, which made him the first manager all-time whose first win with a team (let alone his first MLB win altogether) came in a no-no.

Domingo Germán, Yankees
June 28, 2023, vs. Athletics
Germán entered his 15th start of the season coming off an outing in which he surrendered 10 runs (eight earned) over 3 1/3 innings against the Mariners, raising his ERA to 5.10. But on this night at the Oakland Coliseum, none of that factored into what became his most dominant performance, a 99-pitch perfect game to make him the fourth pitcher in franchise history to throw a perfecto (also Don Larsen, David Wells and David Cone). The 30-year-old right-hander reached a three-ball count only twice in the contest and struck out nine. The perfect game was only the 24th in AL/NL history, and the first in more than a decade -- the Mariners' Félix Hernández threw the 23rd on Aug. 15, 2012, against the Rays. It was also the first no-hitter against the A's in more than three decades (the previous was a combined no-hitter of the A's by the Orioles at the Coliseum on July 13, 1991).

Tyler Gilbert, D-backs
Aug. 14, 2021, vs. Padres
Gilbert became just the second pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in his first MLB start when he blanked the San Diego Padres. The unheralded 27-year-old had made just three big league relief appearances prior to his historic start, totaling only 3 2/3 innings pitched. Arizona selected Gilbert in the Minor League portion of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, essentially acquiring him for the sum of $24,000. Following the cancellation of the 2020 MiLB season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilbert began working with his father as an electrician while staying in shape in the hopes of one day making a Major League roster.

Chris Heston, Giants
June 9, 2015, vs. Mets
The Giants were perennial contenders throughout the early 2010s and had four straight seasons in which they had a pitcher throw a no-hitter: Matt Cain in 2012, Tim Lincecum in 2013-14 and Heston in 2015. Heston remains the only pitcher on record to hit three batters in a nine-inning no-hitter, accomplishing the feat against the Mets at Citi Field. The 27-year-old allowed no walks and added 11 strikeouts, including a trio of punch outs in the ninth inning to close his performance. The Florida native was making just the 12th of only 33 big league starts. Injuries and ineffectiveness limited Heston to just 41 total MLB appearances across a professional career which spanned from 2009 to 2018.

Philip Humber, White Sox
April 21, 2012, vs. Mariners
As has been noted before, Humber likely has the title of unlikeliest perfect game wrapped up for the foreseeable future. His unbelievable performance reached a crescendo on the game’s final pitch, as Mariners hitter Brendan Ryan was called out following a full-count check swing and began arguing with the umpire as opposed to running to first base. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski threw down to first base and from there, the celebration was on. Tommy John surgery had turned Humber from a prolific prospect to a journeyman pitcher prior to his perfect game, and he was placed on waivers following the 2012 season. His career ERA+ of 81 (100 is considered average) remains the lowest all-time by any pitcher who has thrown a perfect game.

Bud Smith, Cardinals
Sept. 3, 2001, vs. Padres
It took working around four walks and throwing 134 total pitches before Smith could officially enter the record books and complete his no-hitter against the Padres, just over 100 miles south from where he grew up. Smith is one of just 24 rookies to throw a no-hitter, and the feat was the only complete game of his 24-start big league career. The Cardinals sent Smith to Philadelphia after he struggled mightily to begin the 2002 season as part of a package that brought back third baseman Scott Rolen. The Phillies sent Smith to Triple-A following the trade, and he was never able to return to the Major Leagues.

Jose Jimenez, Cardinals
June 25, 1999, vs. D-backs
Over 45,000 fans poured into Arizona’s Bank One Ballpark to watch D-backs ace Randy Johnson continue the first of four straight Cy Young Award winning seasons. Instead, Jimenez stole the show, besting Johnson’s complete game by throwing a no-hitter en route to a 1-0 victory. Jimenez’s performance was sandwiched between a pair of high profile perfect games, so as time marches on it becomes harder to remember how improbable his performance was. The Dominican native reinvented himself as a reliever with the Rockies in 2000 and recorded 110 saves across the final five years of his MLB career.

Juan Nieves, Brewers
April 15, 1987, vs. Orioles
Nieves pitched for only three seasons and posted a lifetime 4.71 ERA (93 ERA+), but he threw the only no-hitter in Brewers history in 1987 against the Orioles at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The left-hander walked five batters but was able to keep an O’s lineup with future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray, as well as nine-time All-Star Fred Lynn, out of the hit column. Nieves’ career was cut short by shoulder problems after the 1988 season.

Joe Cowley, White Sox
Sept. 19, 1986, vs. Angels
Cowley issued seven walks and allowed a run in this 1986 start against the Angels, but he nevertheless completed a no-hitter against Reggie Jackson and the Halos in Anaheim. He’d never record another winning decision as a Major Leaguer. The right-hander went 0-2 in his final three appearances in 1986 and, after being traded to the Phillies in the offseason, went 0-4 with a 15.43 ERA in five games (four starts). Cowley is the only pitcher in AL/NL history not to record another win after throwing a no-hitter.

Mike Warren, A’s
Sept. 29, 1983, vs. White Sox
Warren didn’t make an appearance in the Majors after the age of 24 and finished with a 5.06 ERA (75 ERA+) in 52 games (27 starts), all for the A’s. But in his final start of the 1983 season, Warren was sensational against the White Sox at the Coliseum in Oakland, firing the A’s first individual no-hitter since Vida Blue’s in 1970.

Bobo Holloman, St. Louis Browns
May 6, 1953, vs. Philadelphia A’s
In 1953, Holloman threw what might have been the most unlikely no-hitter ever. Holloman was on the roster bubble as he struggled in a relief role, but he continued to lobby for a chance to start. He finally got that opportunity on May 6, and with the help of some great defense (and perhaps some divine intervention), Holloman no-hit the A’s in St. Louis, becoming the first pitcher in the modern era to throw a no-no in his first career start. The legend of Holloman’s no-hitter grew further from the fact that 1953 turned out to be his only Major League season.

Charlie Robertson, White Sox
April 30, 1922, vs. Tigers
After making one appearance for the White Sox in 1919, Robertson pitched for the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association the next two years before returning to Chicago in 1922. In his third career start, Robertson fired a perfect game against the Tigers in Detroit. Robertson’s perfect game was the only one thrown between Addie Joss’ in 1908 and Don Larsen’s World Series perfecto in 1956. The right-hander went on to post a lifetime 4.44 ERA, and his 90 ERA+ is the second lowest for a pitcher who threw a perfect game.

Iron Davis, Boston Braves
Sept. 9, 1914, vs. Phillies
Davis’ no-hitter during the 1914 season was one of only seven victories the right-hander recorded in his Major League career, which lasted just four seasons. He posted a 4.48 ERA (68 ERA+) over 191 innings before serving in the U.S. Army during World War I.