Thomas Pannone Throws Perfect Game for Nashville Sounds in Triple-A

<p>Former Major League pitcher Thomas Pannone threw a nine-inning perfect game on September 4, 2026, leading the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to a 3-0 victory over the Durham Bulls. The 32-year-old southpaw retired all 27 batters he faced on just 94 pitches.</p><p>Pannone recorded nine shutout innings with zero hits, zero walks, and eight strikeouts.</p><p>This marks the first nine-inning, single-pitcher perfect game in Minor League Baseball since 2017 and is only the fifth solo perfect game in the 142-year history of the International League, which dates back to 1884.</p><p>Pannone pitched with command, facing a challenge in the bottom of the ninth against the final batter. After falling into a 3-0 count, he recovered to retire the hitter and secure the final out.</p><p>Pannone has a history of near-perfect performances; during his time with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2018 to 2019, he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of his Major League debut against Baltimore. In 2019, he achieved an immaculate inning against Tampa Bay, striking out the side on nine consecutive pitches.</p><p>Since leaving Toronto in 2020, Pannone has played in the minor leagues for the Cubs, Angels, and Yankees, and had a stint in the Korean Baseball Organization. He made a spot start for Milwaukee earlier this summer, marking his first MLB appearance in three years before returning to Triple-A.</p>