Mar 30, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryne Nelson (19) records his first ever pinch hit run and RBI in his first career at-bat with a grounder back up the middle through a drawn-in Chicago Cubs infield during the ninth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

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Not Just Shohei Ohtani! Diamondbacks Pitcher Delivers at Plate in Clutch Moment

On Sunday, Ryne Nelson finally got the chance to prove that he can hit. And he did.

For a moment, Ryne Nelson wasn’t just a pitcher. He was a hitter, and a clutch one at that.

The Arizona Diamondbacks found themselves in an unusual predicament during Sunday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. After a flurry of substitutions, they had forfeited their designated hitter spot and had no more position players available. With two runners on in the eighth inning of a tense 7-6 game, the pitcher’s spot was due up. Enter Ryne Nelson, a starting pitcher who hadn’t taken a big league at-bat in nearly two years.

Ryne Nelson with the ball from his first Major League hit today. @Dbacks pic.twitter.com/yJGtqfIpve
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) March 30, 2025

Ryne Nelson, however, had been waiting for this moment.

“He’s been talking smack for two years now about what he’s able to do,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said with a grin.

And when the moment arrived, Nelson backed it up. Facing Cubs reliever Eli Morgan, he laced a single up the middle, contributing to an explosive eight-run inning that sealed a 10-6 victory for Arizona.

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Nelson’s brief return to the batter’s box wasn’t entirely out of nowhere. Before transitioning to a full-time pitching role, he played shortstop for two seasons at the University of Oregon. His confidence with the bat never faded, and he made sure Lovullo knew it.

“Last year, we were in a similar situation, and I had to send Scott McGough up there,” Lovullo recalled. “After he struck out, Ryne came up to me and said, ‘I would’ve gotten a hit.’”

RYNE NELSON IS BRINGING BACK PITCHERS WHO HIT!!! pic.twitter.com/gsOGsV8pGs
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 30, 2025

On Sunday, he finally got the chance to prove it. And he did.

While Shohei Ohtani has redefined what a two-way player can be, Nelson’s unlikely heroics serve as a reminder that pitchers can still make an impact with the bat, even in an era where the designated hitter has taken over. His teammates erupted in the dugout, knowing how much he had been waiting for a moment like this.

With the win, the Diamondbacks not only completed a thrilling comeback but also gave Nelson a story he’ll be telling for years. And maybe, just maybe, Lovullo will think twice before overlooking his pitchers in the batting cage.

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.