Tyler Gilbert Tosses MLB Single Season Record 8th No-Hitter in 1st Big League Start

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Gilbert, who had only 3 2/3 innings over work under his belt in his big league career, made MLB history tonight tossing a no-hitter in first big league start and in the process setting a MLB single season record for no-hitters with eight. 

Gilbert, 27, no-hit the San Diego Padres en route to a 7-0 victory for a D'Backs team which has the worst record in MLB. Even more remarkable is that Gilbert was a Rule 5 draft pick from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The D'Backs are required to keep Gilbert on their big league roster but had used him sparingly until tonight and he made the most of it. This marks the first time a pitcher has thrown a no-hitter in his first big league start since 1953 when St. Louis Browns pitcher Bobo Holloman no-hit the Philadelphia Athletics. 

With Gilbert setting the record things have come full circle for the Padres who were on the receiving end of the no-hitter. San Diego native Joe Musgrove threw the first no-hitter of the 2021 season and first in Padres franchise history on April 9th against the Texas Rangers. Five days later, Chicago White Sox hurler Carlos Rodon no-hit the Cleveland Indians. Three weeks later, John Means of the Baltimore Orioles would no-hit the Seattle Mariners. Forty-eight hours later, Cincinnati Reds southpaw Wade Miley would victimize the Indians with another no-hitter. Eleven days later, Detroit Tigers pitcher Spencer Turnbull would no-hit the Mariners who failed to manage a hit for the second time in less than two weeks. Twenty-four hours later, New York Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber no-hit the Texas Rangers for the second time in the 2021 season. Another five weeks (plus a day) would pass before Chicago Cubs pitchers Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel would throw a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the way things have gone this season, 51 days between no-hitters seems like an eternity. Nevertheless, Gilbert made history tonight.

Honestly, there should be 9 no-hitters in the books. If there were, the D'Backs would have two no-hitters to their credit this season. On April 25th, Bumgarner no-hit the Atlanta Braves during a doubleheader. But MLB only recognizes 9 inning no-hitters. Now that doubleheaders are only 7 innings apiece, pitchers are precluded from being recognized for a no-hitter. 

With a month and a half left in the season I have a feeling we haven't seen the last no-hitter of the 2021 season.