Watch: LLWS pitcher throws immaculate inning

Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Little League World Series pitcher dominates with immaculate inning

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 8/17/23

Get familiar with the name Fan Chen-Jun because you are probably going to be hearing a lot of it over the next couple of weeks if you are watching the Little League World Series.

The Chinese Tapei pitcher dazzled on Thursday evening in a 6-0 win over Canada, contributing to a combined perfect game.

Chen-Jun was wowing ESPN's announcers and rolling through the Canadian lineup by consistently throwing 80 mph fastballs and unhittable sliders.

An 80 mph fastball from Little League pitching distances would be the equivalent of a major league pitcher throwing 105 mph from their mound.

The highlight of his hitting on Thursday was the bottom of the third inning when he threw an immaculate inning, striking out the side on nine pitches.

Have a look. Nine pitches. Nine strikes. Each of them more impressive than the one that preceded it.

Immaculate inning from Fan Chen-Jun (Chinese Taipei) #LLWS pic.twitter.com/B4CXTWdkmN
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) August 17, 2023

The immaculate inning has been accomplished only 114 times in major league history. It is almost certainly more common in youth baseball where hitters are, obviously, not as good and more aggressive at chasing pitches, but it is still an incredibly impressive showing.

Also impressive was the fact that Chen-Jun also clubbed a two-run home run in the win. He did it all on Thursday.

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