(MLB.com)
Easton McGee made history in just his second Major League Baseball appearance. The former Mr. Baseball from Hopkinsville High School took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his first MLB start Saturday, getting the no decision in a 1-0 Seattle loss at Toronto.
McGee got the spot start as the Mariners learned earlier this week that 2021 Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray was lost for the season with an arm injury. McGee took the spot Saturday of Chris Flexen, who was sent to the bullpen after an 0-4 start with a 10.38 ERA in four starts for the Mariners.
McGee took full advantage of his opportunity at the Rogers Centre.
The always-intense Matt Chapman doubled off the center field wall with two outs in the seventh to break up McGee’s no-no.
McGee retired the first 12 batters he faced before a walk to Chapman to begin the fifth inning. He threw only 64 pitches and struck out two.
However, McGee’s outing did not deliver him a decision. The Mariners, batting .222 as a team, struck out 19 times and lost on a walk-off hit in the 10th inning.
The Mariners said McGee was the first pitcher in team history to make a start of 6.2 scoreless innings while allowing one hit or less within his first two career games.
The 25-year-old McGee was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He advanced through the Rays’ system, making it to Triple-A Durham last year. He made his MLB debut on Oct. 2 against the Astros, throwing three scoreless innings of relief.
He was designated for assignment the next day. The Boston Red Sox signed him on Oct. 5 and sent him to Seattle on Nov. 9 for cash considerations.
McGee was 3-0 with a 3.14 ERA for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. He had struck out 24 in 28 innings of work.
According to Baseballreference.com, McGee is the first Hopkinsville-born player to appear in the Major Leagues. There were several from Christian County, including Pemboke’s Frank Warfield, who played in the Negro Leagues.
McGee wore No. 59 for the Mariners – the 18th Seattle player to don the number and the first since Joey Gerber in 2020.
