No-hitter history: Breaking down five hit-free games thrown by Erie SeaWolves pitchers

In nearly 30 years as an organization, the Erie SeaWolves have thrown five no-hitters, including the most recent one on July 20.

From two combined no-hitters to three on the road, all five performances have been memorable for the 'Wolves. It started in 1995 when 17-year-old Elvin Hernandez threw a controversial no-hitter in Oneonta, New York, and the five include big-time prospect Casey Mize throwing one in his Double-A debut.

Here's a look at the five no-hitters in SeaWolves history:

First no-hitter in franchise history

• Date : Aug. 24, 1995
• Location : Damaschke Field, Oneonta, N.Y.
• Pitcher : Elvin Hernandez
• Catcher : Chance Reynolds
• Score : Erie 7, Oneonta 0

Breakdown : The SeaWolves didn't get a chance to mob Hernandez in celebration when the game ended because they left the field thinking he threw a two-hit shutout. After the game ended, Erie pitching coach Larry Smith went to the press box and argued both hit calls and both were changed to errors by the SeaWolves. Hernandez retired the first eight hitters before a bouncer to third baseman Boomer Whipple. Whipple made a wild throw to first which was initially ruled an infield single. Later in the sixth inning, Erie led 5-0 when a slow roller was hit to shortstop Chad Hermansen. He couldn't make a play on the ball, which was also initially ruled an infield hit. Hernandez allowed just three baserunners as he walked one batter in the fourth inning in addition to the two errors. Whipple drove in two runs on three hits in the win, while Charles Rice had three hits and scored three runs. Hernandez, from Ranchete in the Dominican Republic, went 6-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts in 1995. He played five seasons in the minor leagues but never advanced above Double-A.

First no-hitter as a Double-A team

• Date : Aug. 22, 2009
• Location : Jerry Uht Park
• Pitcher : Thad Weber
• Catcher : Jeff Kunkel
• Score : Erie 16, Akron 0

Breakdown : Weber was at the start of his career at just 24 years old when he fired the second no-hitter in Jerry Uht Park history and the first by a SeaWolves pitcher. Bowie's Matthew Bailie threw the first no-hitter on Aug. 14, 2005. Weber was able to pitch nearly stress-free during the no-hitter as the SeaWolves jumped out to an 11-0 lead after four innings. Michael Bertram, Chris White, Jeff Kunkel and Deik Scram all hit home runs in the dominant 16-0 win. Weber retired the first eight batters of the game before Cristo Arnal reached on a fielding error by second baseman Danny Worth.

Weber continued to dominate by retiring the next 13 batters before hitting Matt McBride with a pitch to start the eighth inning. Weber allowed just two baserunners throughout the game as he struck out 10 and threw just 88 pitches. Weber, a 16th-round pick by Detroit in the 2008 MLB draft out of Nebraska, made his MLB debut on April 22, 2012. He made two appearances for the Tigers in 2012, three appearances for the Padres and five for Toronto in 2013. Weber spent 2014 in Korea before three more seasons in the minor leagues, including four starts for the 'Wolves in 2016 before retiring after the 2017 season.

First combined no-hitter

• Date : April 24, 2019
• Location : UPMC Park (formerly Jerry Uht Park)
• Pitchers : Alex Faedo, Drew Carlton
• Catcher : Chace Numata
• Score : Erie 5, Bowie 0

Breakdown : There was plenty of hype surrounding Alex Faedo during his SeaWolves career. He was the 18th overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Tigers out of Florida. He reached Erie in 2018 to make 12 starts before beginning the 2019 season with the SeaWolves. Drew Carlton was on the opposite end of the hype as a 32nd-round pick out of Florida State in the same draft as Faedo. Both pitchers ended up reaching the big leagues and are forever intertwined as throwing the first combined no-hitter for the SeaWolves . Faedo retired 11 batters in a row to start the game before walking Rylan Bannon.

He also hit Brett Cumberland with a pitch in the fifth inning and Yusniel Diaz reached on an error in the seventh inning, but Faedo didn't allow a hit. He finished with five strikeouts and left after 90 pitches. Carlton struck out two and allowed one walk in two innings to complete the no-hitter. Carlton made his MLB debut on Sept. 4, 2021, for the Tigers after pitching in 2018 and 2019 for the SeaWolves.

Carlton made four appearances for Detroit in 2021 and five appearances for the Tigers in 2022. He signed with the Padres in 2023 and made 11 appearances. Carlton is currently on the 60-day injured list for San Diego. Faedo has battled injuries but made his MLB debut on May 4, 2022, for the Tigers. He went 1-5 with a 5.53 ERA in 12 starts for Detroit in 2022, 2-5 with a 4.45 ERA in 15 appearances in 2023, and is 5-1 with a 3.61 ERA in 30 appearances this year with the Tigers.

What a debut

• Date : April 29, 2019
• Location : Peoples Natural Gas Field, Altoona
• Pitcher : Casey Mize
• Catcher : Jake Rogers
• Score : Erie 1, Altoona 0

Breakdown : Expectations already reached a fever pitch when Casey Mize was promoted to the SeaWolves. He was the first overall pick in the 2018 draft by Detroit out of Auburn and Tiger fans anticipated a quick move through the minor leagues. He stoked that fire of excitement by throwing a no-hitter in his Double-A debut . The SeaWolves went 14 years between their first two no-hitters and another 10 years before their third no-hitter. Mize, who was 22 years old at the time, threw his no-hitter less than one week after Faedo and Carlton combined for their no-hitter. Mize had some early nerves as he hit leadoff hitter Jared Oliva with a pitch, but he immediately induced a double play.

He started mowing down Altoona hitters and didn't allow another baserunner until he walked Bligh Madris with two outs in the seventh inning. Mize retired the next seven hitters in a row to complete his 98-pitch no-hitter. Mize struck out seven and threw 70 strikes for the SeaWolves. Mize finished the season in Erie going 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 15 starts, but that was his final season in the minor leagues. Mize started 2020 with Detroit and has been in the big leagues since that season. He went 0-3 with a 6.99 ERA in seven starts in 2020 before an injury and he went 7-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 30 starts in 2021. The injuries continue to haunt Mize as he made just two starts in 2022, he missed all of 2023 and is 2-6 with a 4.23 ERA in 16 starts this season with Detroit.

No-hitter by committee

• Date : July 20, 2024
• Location : Mirabito Stadium, Binghamton, N.Y.
• Pitchers : Jackson Jobe, Jake Higginbotham, Matt Seelinger, Garrett Hill
• Catcher : Eliezer Alfonzo
• Score : Erie 3, Binghamton 0

Breakdown : Tigers fans tuned in to watch because of starting pitcher Jackson Jobe. Jobe, 21, was the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft out of Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City. He is the top pitching prospect for the Tigers and garners a big audience each time he takes the mound. He started solid by retiring five in a row before walking Jaylen Palmer of Binghamton. Jobe then retired the next seven in a row before a leadoff walk to Nick Lorusso to start the bottom of the fifth inning. Jobe struck out five in six dominant innings, throwing 70 pitches, including 49 strikes.

More: Four SeaWolves combine to no-hit Binghamton for fifth no-hitter in franchise history

The Erie bullpen came through with three no-hit innings to complete the task. It started with Jake Higginbotham, who was drafted by Atlanta in the 11th round of the 2018 draft out of Clemson. He was traded to Detroit with Justyn-Henry Malloy for former SeaWolves pitcher Joe Jimenez. Higginbotham, 28, needed nine pitches to get through a perfect seventh inning. Next up was Matt Seelinger, a 29-year-old relief pitcher who was taken in the 28th round of the 2017 draft by Pittsburgh out of Farmingdale State. Seelinger has been traded twice and released twice throughout his career. He started 2024 in independent baseball before the Tigers signed him in late June. Seelinger nearly struck out the side on 17 pitches in a perfect eighth inning.

Garrett Hill, who is currently with Triple-A Toledo, finished the no-hitter with a quick ninth inning, which included a walk. Hill, 28, was taken in the 26th round of the 2018 draft by Detroit out of San Diego State. He was a starting pitcher who made four starts with Erie in 2021 and seven starts with the 'Wolves in 2022. Hill made his way to Detroit in 2022 as a long reliever and starting pitcher and went 3-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 17 appearances. He made nine relief appearances for the Tigers in 2023 and has pitched at all three levels of the minor leagues this season.

See you in September: SeaWolves are headed to the playoffs for the third straight season

Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com . Follow him on X @ETNreisenweber .

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: No-hitter history: Breaking down five hit-free games thrown by Erie SeaWolves pitchers