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- The Cincinnati Reds blew out the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.
- Andrelton Simmons got a pitching appearance, and his performance quickly went viral.
- Read more MLB stories here!
It was a terrific night for the Cincinnati Reds for once. At the bottom of the eighth inning, the Reds had a massive 15-5 lead over the Chicago Cubs. So, the Cubs sent out shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the mound to save the arms of the bullpen with the game out of sight.
Another position player was pitching, and Simmons threw one inning, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk. But, Simmons’ performance quickly went viral after a series of unbelievable pitches.
Where do we even begin? How about the 45 MPH swing and miss.
Right after that, he nearly hit Kyle Farmer in the head, and the overlay is something we might never see again.
Andrelton Simmons, 45mph Simba Special and 78mph Elevated Fastball, Overlay. pic.twitter.com/0qljyJUOrB
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2022
That is something else indeed.
Andrelton Simmons’ pitching quickly went viral and reignited the player’s pitching conversation.
Yadier Molina also pitched this week, although his performance wasn’t as viral as Simmons’. Nonetheless, the Cubs shortstop playing pitcher brought about a mixed reaction from the fans.
45mph in…catcher was 47 back to the mound.
— Fraser Engel (@FraserEngel) May 26, 2022
Thats me playing slowpitch softball for the first time after playing baseball for over 10 years. My eyes light up at the pitch but swing and miss.
— Baseball & Metal (@Ermdog24) May 26, 2022
Others weren’t too thrilled and are tired of seeing position players take the mound, although the new rule change should eliminate some of this.
I wish position players would act like they’ve thrown a ball before when they get on the mound, because unless it’s someone like Yadi or Punils, it’s really boring to watch anymore.
— Karl (@rs_toper) May 27, 2022
We’re unlikely to get fewer position players pitching when (if?) they enforce the 13 pitcher cap, now pushed back again until June 20.
— Jonathan Brolin (@JonBrolin) May 26, 2022
The performance from Simmons was marvelous, and even though the Reds won by a score of 20-5, Farmer’s swing and miss made history — it was the slowest swinging strike ever recorded in an MLB game.
Simmons will remember this for the rest of his life, and it ironically came on his first-ever time pitching in the majors.