'Korean-American' fireballer Riley O'Brien (St. Louis Cardinals) has continued scoreless pitching since the season opener.
On April 2 (Korea time) at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, O'Brien pitched a scoreless inning in a 2026 Major League Baseball home game against the New York Mets.
St. Louis won 2-1. After O'Brien preserved the ninth inning scoreless, the game went to extra innings, and the walk-off came in the 11th.
With the game tied 1-1, O'Brien went to the mound for the top of the ninth and threw a first-pitch slider to the leadoff hitter Jorge Polanco but gave up a double. With a runner on second and no outs and a run-scoring threat looming, O'Brien responded by throwing his fastest pitch of the day, a 98.6 mph (about 159 km) sinker, for the first pitch to the next hitter, Luis Robert Jr.
O'Brien struck out Robert Jr. on a full-count, swinging strike on the fifth pitch. He then induced an infield groundout from Brett Baty and struck out Marcus Semien swinging to escape the scoring threat.
O'Brien declined to wear the national team uniform at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and prepared for the 2026 season. Through the Mets game he has appeared in four games this season, recording 1 save, 1 hold, and 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Earned run average: 0. He is solidly protecting St. Louis' back end.
In the April 1 game against the Mets, he allowed neither a hit nor a walk and retired the side scoreless in one inning. It's still early, but he has shown impenetrable pitching. By doing his one inning two days in a row, he has helped lead the team's winning streak. In the previous day's game he also recorded his first save of the season.
Last season O'Brien, a 'Korean-American' pitcher, appeared in 42 games and posted a 3-1 record with 6 saves, 6 holds and a 2.06 earned run average. He is emerging as a reliable guardian for St. Louis this year.
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