Braves prospect Anderson K's 14 in no-hitter
A pair of Mississippi Braves hurlers made history on Friday night as Ian Anderson and Jeremy Walker combined to throw a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Double-A Jackson at Trustmark Park. It was the third no-hitter in M-Braves history -- two of which have been combined -- and the team’s first since Julio Teheran and Ty’Relle Harris combined to accomplish the feat in 2010.
Anderson celebrated being named to the 2019 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game earlier in the day by turning in the best start of his career, as the Braves’ No. 3 prospect racked up a career-best 14 strikeouts to match the Mississippi franchise record set by Tommy Hanson in 2008.
• Futures Game scouting reports
He struck out the side in the first inning -- he recorded his first five outs via the strikeout -- and then did so again in the fifth en route to posting multiple strikeouts in five of his seven frames. It was the second double-digit strikeout performance in 16 starts this season by the 21-year-old right-hander, who faced five over the minimum in the outing while issuing two walks and throwing 66 of 103 pitches for strikes, including a season-high 19 swinging strikes.
Anderson, MLB Pipeline’s No. 26 overall prospect, leads all Double-A pitchers with 113 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings this season, while his ERA sits at 2.94 after Friday’s gem. The former 2016 first-round pick (No. 3 overall) has held opposing hitters to a .194 average.
Jeremy Walker, Atlanta’s No. 27 prospect, replaced Anderson on the mound in the eighth inning and proceeded to deliver two perfect frames, ultimately sealing the M-Braves’ no-hitter with a swinging strikeout. In the process, the 24-year-old right-hander recorded his third straight save, making him a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances this season. Selected by the Braves in the fifth round of the same 2016 Draft that netted them Anderson, Walker owns a 2.34 ERA with 55 strikeouts and four walks through 57 2/3 innings in his first Double-A campaign.
Meanwhile, it was only fitting that Braves top prospect Cristian Pache (No. 14 overall), Atlanta’s other Futures Game selection, accounted for all of the M-Braves’ offense behind Anderson on Friday, as he delivered an RBI double in the third inning before connecting on a long solo home run to left field in his next trip to the plate to finish 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot.
The 20-year-old outfielder is enjoying a breakout campaign in the Southern League, where he’s produced a .297/.354/.530 line with a career-high 11 home runs as well as 20 doubles in 73 games.