Journeyman Pannone achieves perfection in Triple-A
Thomas Pannone, a 32-year-old left-hander for the Nashville Sounds, threw a nine-inning perfect game against the Durham Bulls, striking out eight on 94 pitches. It was the first solo perfect game in the minors since 2017 and only the fifth in International League history. Pannone has bounced around the minors and internationally, with brief MLB stints with Toronto and Milwaukee.
Pannone's outing marks the fifth perfect game in International League history and the first since 2011. Recent minor league perfectos have frequently been combined efforts or shortened to eight innings, making his complete nine-inning solo performance particularly notable.
Drafted in 2013, Pannone overcame a PED suspension before debuting with Toronto in 2018. After a difficult 2019 season, he pitched in the Korean Baseball Organization, then returned to the Brewers organization, where he has logged just one MLB appearance in each of the last two seasons.
This achievement could boost Pannone's visibility, potentially leading to a late-season call-up or a new opportunity elsewhere. It may also draw renewed attention to Triple-A baseball, showcasing the depth of veteran talent in minor league systems. For the Brewers, it underscores the value of experienced depth, possibly influencing future roster decisions as they evaluate their pitching staff.