Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers notched his 200th strikeout in the sixth inning on September 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He became the fourth pitcher in Brewers franchise history to reach the milestone and is the first Dominican-born pitcher to do so.
Peralta joined Teddy Higuera, Corbin Burnes and Yovani Gallardo in the exclusive club. This season was Peralta’s second consecutive season reaching the milestone. In his last start before the postseason, he made sure he got there. After a 31-pitch fifth inning, Peralta came out for one final batter, knowing he needed just one strikeout for 200. A nine-pitch battle with Bryan Reynolds ended with him swinging at a slider down and away.
Peralta is the only Dominican-born pitcher in franchise history to have a 200-strikeout season, let alone multiple. He and Wily Peralta are the only Dominican-born pitchers in franchise history even to have a 150-strikeout season.
This season for Peralta was his first as the ace of the Brewers staff. He made every start on his way to making history, setting career highs in starts and innings pitched. Peralta touched on the importance of being healthy after the contest.
“It’s very important for me. I always say it in Spring Training. The most important thing for me, for a starting pitcher, is to be healthy the whole season,” Peralta said to reporters about not missing a start. “Take the baseball every five days and be able to pitch. That’s huge for me.”
The Brewers signed Peralta to a five-year, $15.5 million extension in 2020. He has become a key part of their recent success as a franchise.
Peralta has been with the team for all six postseason appearances in the last seven seasons. Before that stretch, the Brewers had been to the postseason just twice in 35 years. Peralta will surely take the mound in Game one of the Wild Card series as he looks to add to his Brewers legacy.
Photo: Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after striking out Bryan Reynolds of the Pittsburgh Pirates for his 200th of the season in the sixth inning at PNC Park on September 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
