Former Blue Jays pitcher Thomas Pannone throws perfect game in triple-A

Left-hander Thomas Pannone needed just 94 pitches to complete the nine-inning perfect game for the Nashville Sounds, the minor-league affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

According to MLB Pipeline, it is the first perfect game by a single pitcher at the minor league level since 2017. It was the fifth such performance in the history of the International League, which dates back to 1884.

Pannone had eight strikeouts in the outing, which came in a 3-0 win over the Durham Bulls. He entered the day with a 4.67 ERA in 21 appearances for Nashville, with 74 strikeouts.

The 32-year-old made one start for the Brewers in July, his first MLB appearance in three years. Earlier in his career, he made 49 appearances for the Blue Jays — including 13 starts — over two seasons in 2018 and ’19. In his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on Aug. 22, 2018, he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a win over the Baltimore Orioles. Pannone is also one of three Blue Jays pitchers to ever throw an immaculate inning, which he did against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 14, 2019.

The Blue Jays designated Pannone for assignment in 2020, and he has since bounced around the Brewers, Cubs, Angels and Yankees organizations while also pitching in Korea.