On April 14th, 2021, Carlos Rodón’s heart was beating faster than it ever had. He just needed two more. Two more, and he’d be a legend. Two more, and he’d be just the 24th person in the history of the world to throw a perfect game.
He sucked in a gulp of the chilly Chicago air, and fired a slider. Maybe it was the moistness of the windy air coming off of Lake Michigan that caused a bit of condensation to form on the ball. Maybe it was just fatigue, both physical and mental. Whatever the reason, Rodón’s fingers slipped the tiniest bit as he released the ball.