Editorial

Astros’ Ronel Blanco Throws First No-Hitter Of The Season In Just His 8th Career Start

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In the Houston Astros' 10-0 victory Monday night over the Toronto Blue Jays, Ronel Blanco racked up seven strikeouts while walking two.en route to a no-hitter. [X/Screenshot/Public — @BarnHasSpoken2]

[X/Screenshot/Public — @BarnHasSpoken2]

Andrew Powell Sports and Entertainment Blogger
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Don’t mind Ronel Blanco … he’s just out here doing big things.

You talk about a week for the Houston Astros right-handed pitcher. All within seven days, my man has had a newborn daughter, made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career, and then just in his eighth start, he threw a no-hitter — and the first of the 2024 MLB season at that.

In Houston‘s 10-0 victory Monday night over the Toronto Blue Jays, Blanco racked up seven strikeouts while walking two. And you remember how I said this was just his eighth start of his career? (RELATED: Jazz Chisholm Comes Up With Interesting Excuse To Say The Least For Why The Marlins Were Swept To Start The Season)

It’s because the 30-year-old didn’t get out of minor-league baseball until he was 28.

Oh, and it gets even better for Blanco: He wouldn’t even be in the starting rotation right now if it wasn’t for Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy being injured.

WATCH:

Man … you know that’s gotta be an amazing feeling.

You struggle your whole career, you don’t manage to make it to Major League Baseball until you’re 28, and then you finally get a break because of a couple of injuries — which then leads you to throw a historic no-hitter.

This is why we love sports, ladies and gentlemen. Because of these random stories of success and magic, and you know that’s the case in baseball.

It’s like Brad Pitt said in the classic film “Moneyball”: “How can you not be romantic about baseball?”

True that, Brad. True that.