Giants right-hander Sean Hjelle made baseball history when he appeared in his first Major League game on Friday night, against the Cardinals in San Francisco.
The towering rookie tied former Nationals reliever Jon Rauch as the tallest pitcher in league history, measuring in at 6-foot-11.
Five others, including Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, were in a second-place tie at a mere 6-foot-10.
Entering the game in the top of the seventh inning with the score tied at 2, Hjelle did his job with aplomb. The former second-round draft pick retired the side on just 11 pitches, including a strikeout of St. Louis outfielder Corey Dickerson.
The former Kentucky Wildcats star has been groomed as a starter throughout his professional career, so it's not clear if the shift to the bullpen is permanent.
While his massive frame suggests Hjelle might be a flamethrower, his game is more polished than overpowering. He relies mostly on a sinker-slider combo to induce chases and weak contact.
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