Carson Kelly’s Historic Cycle Leads Cubs to Victory
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a game that will be remembered for its historic significance, Carson Kelly, the catcher for the Chicago Cubs, achieved a remarkable feat against the Athletics on Monday night. Not only did Kelly hit for the cycle, but he also managed to walk twice, showcasing his all-around performance at the plate.
Kelly’s night was nothing short of spectacular. He launched a home run in the fourth inning, followed by a two-run single in the fifth. The sixth inning saw him double and walk, and he capped off his night with a triple in the eighth inning. This performance made Kelly the first Cubs player to hit for the cycle since Mark Grace did so on May 9, 1993, against the Padres. Interestingly, this achievement came before Kelly was even born in 1994.
According to ESPN Research, Kelly’s cycle is the first to occur in the month of March, and he is just the 17th catcher in MLB history to accomplish this rare feat. The last catcher to hit for the cycle was J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies on June 12, 2023.
From a franchise perspective, Kelly’s cycle is a significant milestone for the Cubs. No catcher for the team had registered a cycle since Randy Hundley did so 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 who got in the game, did something good.”
Kelly’s RBI triple made the score 17-3, effectively silencing the buzz surrounding the Athletics’ home opener in their minor league ballpark. The Cubs dominated the game, pounding out 21 hits against Athletics pitchers and cruising to an 18-3 victory.
The Chicago Cubs, who have already traveled to Japan and Arizona before this trip, took the Athletics’ opener in stride. After a 2-4 start to the season, they were eager to play winning baseball.
“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, I guess, I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing but we’re here. Looking forward to going out and playing some good baseball.”
So far, so good for the Cubs, as they continue to build momentum early in the season.
- Carson Kelly’s cycle is the first in March.
- He is the 17th catcher in MLB history to hit for the cycle.
- The Cubs’ last cycle by a catcher was in 1966.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
