What is the record for the most strikeouts in a single game by a single pitcher?

Answer 1

The record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game by a minor league pitcher was set by Ron Necciai, who struck out 27 batters in a Class-D game between the Appalachian League Bristol Twins and the Welsh Miners (May 13, 1952).

Answer 2

The record is 4 and it is held by a lot of people. Chuck Finley has the record for the most 4 strikeout innings. If you expand to the minor leagues and/or spring training there are people who have 5 strikeouts in an inning. Here are some reference materials from Wikipedia's Strikeout article. The first player to strike out 4 batters in an inning was Jon Andre of the New York Giants on October 4, 1888. Chuck Finley did it on May 12 and August 15, 1999 with the Anaheim Angels, and then for a third time on April 16, 2000 with the Cleveland Indians. Finley is the only player to pitch four strikeouts in an inning more than once. Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs struck out 4 in an inning in 2002, but in his case, 2 batters reached base due to passed balls by his catcher Todd Hundley. The feat was once quite rare, occurring only five times before 1956, but it has become less rare in recent years, occurring six times during the 1999 season alone. This increase in frequency may be due somewhat to increased use of the split-finger fastball and forkball, both pitches that end up in the dirt at the plate when effective and often are difficult to handle for catchers. In addition, individual strikeouts are simply far more common, now generally occurring in about one out of eight plate appearances, rather than in about one out of six as in the 1950s, and the total number of innings pitched in a season has doubled as well, due to an expanded schedule and more than a dozen extra teams. The combined effects of the higher strikeout rate and expanded schedule would be expected to make the four-strikeout inning about seven times more frequent than it was fifty years ago. With any runners advancing to leave first base open if there are less than two outs, the process can repeat, leading to a fifth strikeout (or more) in the inning. A fifth strikeout has not happened in a regulation game in the major leagues, but has occurred three times in the minor leagues, most recently by Garrett Bauer of the Rockford RiverHawks against the Windy City Thunderbolts on July 1, 2008. In the major leagues, knuckleballer Joe Niekro also struck out five men in an inning during a spring exhibition game when Niekro was with the Houston Astros.

Answer 3

While logic would lead us to believe that the most strikeouts a pitcher can get in one inning is 3, it's not true. 52 pitchers have recorded 4 strike outs in one inning. How does this happen? If a batter with 2 strikes swings and misses on strike three, but the catcher doesn't field it cleanly, he can run to 1B. It's not one of the three outs for the inning, but, it is a strikeout for the pitcher. No one has recorded more than 4 strikeouts in one inning, although it is possible.

The most recent pitcher to accomplish this feat is Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners. He struck out four batters on June 3rd, 2010.

For a complete list of all major league pitchers who have struck out 4 batters, see Related Links, below.

Answer 4

Infinitely many, since the catcher could theoretically drop third strike after third strike.

Answer 5

Kerry wood and Roger Clemens both struck out 20 in a single game which is currently the record

Answer 6

16