WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly made history Monday night, becoming the first MLB player to hit for the cycle in March during the Cubs’ dominant 18-3 win over the Oakland Athletics.
Kelly’s milestone performance included a home run in the fourth inning, a two-run single in the fifth, a double and a walk in the sixth, and a triple in the eighth. In addition to his cycle, he reached base twice via walks, further highlighting his stellar night at the plate.
His achievement marked the first cycle by a Cubs player since Mark Grace accomplished the feat on May 9, 1993, against the San Diego Padres—before Kelly was even born in 1994. According to ESPN Research, he is just the 17th catcher in MLB history to hit for the cycle, with J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies being the last to do so on June 12, 2023. Additionally, Kelly became the first Cubs catcher to complete a cycle since Randy Hundley did it on August 11, 1966, against the Houston Astros.
“He had a great night, really a historic night,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “A catcher hitting a triple? Yeah, it was a fun night. We played a really good baseball game, and everybody contributed.”
Kelly’s eighth-inning RBI triple extended Chicago’s lead to 17-3, effectively silencing the excitement surrounding Oakland’s home opener at their temporary minor league ballpark. The Cubs’ offense overwhelmed Athletics pitching, collecting 21 hits in the rout.
Despite an early-season schedule that has taken them to Japan and Arizona before arriving in Sacramento, the Cubs shrugged off their travel fatigue and delivered a statement win after starting the season 2-4.
“It’s a normal road trip; it just feels a little different,” Cubs first baseman Justin Turner said. “Obviously, opening up here, being the first-ever major league game in Sacramento is something—whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, I don’t know. But we’re here, and we’re looking forward to playing good baseball.”
So far, so good.
[ajax_load_more]