The most recent perfect game in Major League Baseball occurred on August 15, 2012, when Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners pitched a masterpiece against the Tampa Bay Rays, resulting in a 1-0 victory for the Mariners.
Hernandez’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, as he completely shut down the Rays’ offense.
During the game, Hernandez displayed incredible precision, throwing a total of 113 pitches.
His command of the strike zone was evident as he recorded 12 strikeouts, further solidifying his mastery over the opposing batters.
The combination of Hernandez’s pitching prowess and the flawless performance of the Mariners’ defense resulted in a historic achievement.
It is worth noting that the 2012 season witnessed a particularly remarkable occurrence, with three perfect games being thrown.
Alongside Hernandez’s gem, Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox and Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants also etched their names in history by achieving perfection on the mound during that same season.
These perfect games stand as a testament to the rarity and extraordinary skill required to accomplish such a feat in Major League.
The ability to retire every single batter faced without allowing a hit, walk, or error is an incredible achievement that showcases the pitcher’s exceptional talent, focus, and execution on the field.
Felix Hernandez’s performance on that memorable day added to the lore of perfect games and solidified his place among the elite pitchers in the game’s history.
After that streak, we saw more than a decade without a perfect game, though there have been numerous near-misses through the years.
There had not been a perfect game since 2012.
However, Domingo Germán made history on Wednesday night at the Coliseum, throwing Major League Baseball’s first perfect game since 2012 in the Yankees’ resounding 11-0 victory over the A’s.
This remarkable feat marked the fourth perfect game in franchise history, with the last one achieved by David Cone against the Expos back in 1999.
Perfect Games Since 2000
| Player, Team | Date |
| Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks | May 18, 2004 |
| Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox | July 23, 2009 |
| Dallas Braden, Oakland Athletics | May 9, 2010 |
| Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies | May 29, 2010 |
| Philip Humber, Chicago White Sox | April 21, 2012 |
| Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants | June 13, 2012 |
| Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners | August 15, 2012 |
| Domingo German, New York Yankees | June 29, 2023 |
