45 years. That is how long Cleveland has been waiting for another no-hitter.
Len Barker’s perfect game against Toronto on May 15, 1981 remains the last time a Guardians pitcher held an opponent hitless through a complete game. Thursday night at Progressive Field, Parker Messick came within three outs of ending that drought before consecutive singles in the ninth inning ended the bid and sent the franchise record book back to waiting.
When asked about it after the game, the young left-hander’s response said everything about who he is as a person and as a competitor.
“I did my best guys, maybe next time,” Messick said, per Mason Horodyski.
The 45 year wait for another #Guardians no hitter continues.
Parker Messick on that drought: “I did my best guys, maybe next time” 😂#GuardsBall x @WEWS pic.twitter.com/Fzmv3Ku4Tx
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) April 17, 2026
Maybe next time.
That is a 25 year old pitcher who understands exactly what he is capable of and sees Thursday night not as a moment that slipped away but as a preview of what is still ahead of him.
That mindset has been on display all season long. He told reporters he has not shaken off a single pitch call from Austin Hedges in four starts this year. He throws whatever pitch is called. He trusts the process, trusts his catcher, and trusts that if he keeps executing, the results will continue to come.
Through four starts in 2026, Messick is 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA. Through 11 career starts, he has six wins and a 2.07 ERA, placing him in company that includes only Paul Skenes, Masahiro Tanaka, and Cy Blanton among pitchers in MLB history through their first 11 games.
The no-hitter drought in Cleveland continues at 45 years.
But if the pitcher tasked with ending it can sit at a podium after carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning and respond with a laugh and a promise of maybe next time, the drought is in very capable hands.
Next time might be closer than anyone thinks.
NEXT: Parker Messick Made MLB History On Thursday
