One of the beautiful things about baseball is the moments that can happen from the first crack of the bat. If you were in attendance or watching the top moments from a historic 2022 MLB season, consider yourself lucky.
The Only Real No-Hitter
Reid Detmers, relatively unknown before throwing a no-no for the Angels, became the youngest pitcher (22) to throw a no-hitter since Anibal Sanchez in 2006. MLB saw three other no-hitters, one being in the postseason by the Houston Astros against the New York Yankees, but they were of the combined variety.
Shohei Ohtani Is in a League by Himself
It’s hard to imagine that Shohei Ohtani would outdo himself after a thrilling MVP season, yet that’s what happened in 2022. There were too many memorable moments the Japanese Babe Ruth gave us this season, so let’s look at his entire season. Ohtani finished fourth in the American League in ERA+ and OPS+, meaning that only three hitters put up better numbers than him, and only three pitchers threw the ball better.
As history shows, that type of production would usually require a $100+ million contract. So, it will be interesting to see what Ohtani gets when he hits the open market if he keeps up this insanity.
Seattle’s Big Moment Thanks to the “Big Dumper”
After a walk-off home run by “Big Dumper” Cal Raleigh, the Mariners punched their postseason ticket for the first time since 2001. The ride continued in the first round, as the M’s swept the Blue Jays in the two-game series, with one of their wins coming from a miraculous comeback. But the villains from Houston returned the favor in the following round, including an 18-inning 1-0 loss in Seattle’s first home playoff game in 21 years.
Albert Pujols Bids Farewell
Before the season began, it seemed impossible that Albert Pujols would have a chance at hitting 700 home runs. The St. Louis reunion was more for the emotional feels rather than the product, but “The Machine” wanted his swan song to go differently. Pujols finished the year with 24 home runs to get him to 703 and a .895 OPS that brought him to second place on the all-time list for total bases, trailing only Hank Aaron.
Judge, Jury, & Executioner
Roger Maris’ 61 home runs remained the official unofficial single-season home run record ever since it became known that players like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds enhanced their performance artificially. And no one would have thought 61 was possible in a league with dead baseballs and a decrease in every offensive category, but Aaron Judge had different ideas. The Yankees’ slugger and current free agent walloped 62 home runs. Sadly, the chase had nowhere near the buzz it did in 1998 and 2001, although it was still a remarkable feat.
The top moments from a historic 2022 MLB season could have been more epic if you used Pregame’s MLB expert picks. Take the off-season off and enjoy the trading and free-agent frenzy the winter has in store, and come back to Pregame before Spring Training in 2023 to get the best advice on the diamond.