Although ThinkBlueLA.com is a Dodgers-based blog site, this is just too big not to report. In only his sixth Major League start, 22-year-old Angels left-hander Reid Detmers threw a complete game, nine-inning, solo no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. It is the first no-no to be tossed in the Bigs thus far this season.

“It’s something I’ve dreamed of ever since I was a little kid,” the Nokomis, IL and Angels first-round (10th overall) draft pick in 2020 out of the University of Louisville. “I didn’t think it would ever happen. I don’t even know. I probably won’t even remember this [interview] tomorrow morning.”

Prior to Tuesday night’s game, Detmers had never gone deeper than six innings as a professional, including his 14 Minor League starts. He had also never thrown more than 97 pitches a game. But the 6′-2″ / 210-pound lefty needed only 108 pitches (68 strikes) to complete his historic no-hitter to become only the 25th rookie in MLB history to do so.

“It’s life-altering, in a sense, as a young man and a Major League player,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said postgame. “Hopefully, we’re going to get a lot of residue at the end of that because he’s capable. That’s how he should pitch, and that’s what he should look like more often.”

The Angels skipper wasn’t being critical of his (likely) future ace (Shohei Ohtani notwithstanding); he was merely referencing Detmer’s 1-1 record and 5.32 ERA heading into Tuesday’s contest. Detmers had also given up three home runs and walked seven through his previous 22 innings pitched. But on this night, Detmers came within a sixth-inning walk to Rays shortstop Taylor Walls and a seventh-inning error by Angels first baseman Jared Walsh from pitching a perfect game.

Ironically, Detmers struck out only two Rays batters on the night. Instead, he relied on soft contact and near-perfect defense to etch his name in MLB history.

“I was just trying to get ahead, but I couldn’t tell you much more,” Detmers told reporters. “I remember talking to [Angels pitching coach Matt] Wise, and he told me to pound the zone. With two strikes on the last hitter, I was shaking a little bit, but other than that, I tried to keep myself composed. It just still hasn’t sunk in.”

Congratulations, young man!

Play Ball!

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