Diamondbacks prospect Daniel Eagen throws an immaculate inning

Arizona Diamondbacks pitching prospect Daniel Eagen accomplished one of the rarest feats in baseball with an immaculate inning on Thursday with the High-A Hillsboro Hops.

An immaculate inning occurs when a pitcher strikes out the side using the minimum nine pitches.

In Major League Baseball, this is rarer than a no-hitter. Only two pitchers delivered an immaculate inning in MLB last year. It can be more common in the minor leagues with more games — D-backs minor leaguer Dylan File threw one last year — but still far from something you see everyday.

Eagen fanned three members of the Tri-City Dust Devils, an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, on Thursday at Hillsboro Ballpark.

He struck out Adrian Palencia swinging with a curveball that dropped through the zone, Joe Redfield with three straight high heaters and then Randy De Jesus with another breaking ball.

Eagen pumped his fist and yelled, “Let’s go,” coming off the field as he took in an early career highlight. And he built off it with five innings and one run to earn the victory.

Daniel Eagen right now 🔥

The @Dbacks prospect entered today with 22 strikeouts over his last 10.1 innings.

The he fired an IMMACULATE INNING to open his start.

(🎥 @HillsboroHops)

pic.twitter.com/Sly72ndIAL

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 24, 2025

Diamondbacks immaculate innings

The Arizona Diamondbacks have experienced three pitchers deliver an immaculate inning at the major league level.

Randy Johnson, of course, did so in 2001 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Byung-Hyun Kim produced one in 2002 against the Philadelphia Phillies, striking out future Hall of Famer Scott Rolen in the process.

The most recent D-backs pitcher to do so was Wade Miley in 2012 against the Colorado Rockies.

There have been 47 immaculate innings in American League history and 67 in National League history, according to the Baseball Almanac.

To compare, there have been 326 total no-hitters.

Who is Daniel Eagen?

Eagen, 22, is a Diamondbacks prospect to watch early this season.

The club drafted the 6-foot-4 right-hander in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft (No. 102) out of Presbyterian.

He’s made four starts this year with a 3.44 ERA, striking out 30 batters in only 18.1 innings.

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