Arizona pitcher Ryne Nelson shocked fans Sunday with an RBI single during a wild comeback against the Cubs. And yes, you read that right – a pitcher got a hit in 2025.
Nelson’s unexpected at-bat came during a massive eight-run eighth inning that turned a 6-2 deficit into an eventual 10-6 Diamondbacks victory.
The hit wasn’t exactly a moonshot. Nelson chopped the ball into the infield at 89.8 mph with a steep -17 degree launch angle. But it got the job done, extending Arizona’s lead from one run to two.
What makes this so unusual? Nelson became the first pitcher not named Shohei Ohtani to record a hit since MLB adopted the universal designated hitter rule in 2022.
So how did a pitcher even get to bat in today’s DH-only world?
It all started in the seventh inning when D-backs manager Torey Lovullo made an unusual move. He shifted Ketel Marte from designated hitter to second base after Garrett Hampson had been pulled for a pinch-hitter an inning earlier.
That decision came with a consequence. Once you move your DH to a defensive position, you lose the DH entirely – meaning pitchers have to bat.
Lovullo tried to minimize the damage with a double-switch, but Arizona’s explosive eighth inning meant Nelson’s spot in the lineup eventually came up. With no pinch hitters left on the bench, Nelson grabbed a bat and headed to the plate.
Though Nelson had 216 plate appearances back in college at Oregon, he’d never taken a professional at-bat until Sunday.
The improbable hit capped off an equally improbable comeback. The Cubs had a 95.6% chance of winning when they led 6-2 entering that fateful eighth inning.
Instead, the Diamondbacks rallied to earn a split of the four-game series.
