Orioles' Chris Bassitt makes wild throw home

Pitcher's errant toss leads to run in loss to Rangers

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:39am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the moment of Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt's wild throw home, with the baseball diamond and players' uniforms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors.A Picasso-esque deconstruction of Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt's errant throw home, highlighting the unique challenges pitchers face when transitioning to an infielder role.Baltimore Today

In a game against the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt made one of the worst throws home ever seen, with his wild toss falling well short of the catcher and allowing a run to score. While the error only led to one run and the Orioles ultimately lost 5-2, the play highlighted the difficulty pitchers sometimes face when transitioning to an infielder role.

Why it matters

Pitchers are typically known for their accuracy from the mound, but plays like Bassitt's throw home show how that precision can sometimes break down when they're asked to make quick throws to the bases. This play serves as a reminder of the unique challenges pitchers face when the ball is hit back to them.

The details

In the first inning, with a runner on base and one out, a grounder was hit back to Bassitt on the mound. Bassitt lined up to throw home, but his throw was well short and wide of the catcher, allowing the runner to score easily. Despite the error, Bassitt was able to limit the damage to just the one run that inning.

  • The play occurred in the first inning of the March 30, 2026 game between the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers.

The players

Chris Bassitt

A pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles who made the errant throw home in the first inning of the game against the Texas Rangers.

Texas Rangers

The opposing team that scored a run on Bassitt's wild throw home in the first inning.

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What they’re saying

“If I told you this was the worst throw home you've ever seen, it still wouldn't prepare you for the throw”

— Jack Settleman

The takeaway

While Bassitt was able to limit the damage to just one run, the play highlighted the unique challenges pitchers face when transitioning to an infielder role and having to make quick, accurate throws to the bases. This is a common issue that even the best pitchers can struggle with at times.