An immaculate inning in baseball occurs when a pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces in a single inning using the minimum possible number of pitches: nine. This means the pitcher throws exactly nine pitches, all of which are strikes, and records three strikeouts consecutively without any balls, foul balls that prolong the at-bat, or batters reaching base. In other words, the pitcher faces three batters, and each batter is struck out with exactly three pitches, resulting in a total of nine pitches for the inning. It's a rare and impressive display of pitching precision and dominance. The first recorded immaculate inning happened on June 4, 1889, and as of 2024, there have been 116 such innings in Major League Baseball history. It is considered a remarkable feat, demonstrating a pitcher's control and skill in executing strikes efficiently and overpowering the batters in a very short span of play. An immaculate inning can also happen with runners on base, but no batter can reach base as a result of a strikeout, and no extra pitches can be thrown beyond the nine strikes. This achievement is notable for its rarity and is regarded as a moment of pitching perfection in the sport.