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An unexpected Chicago Cubs player has hit for the first cycle of the 2025 MLB season.
Cubs catcher Carson Kelly needed just four at-bats to complete all four legs of the cycle during his team’s Monday game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif. Kelly did it despite hitting ninth in the batting order.
After walking in his first plate appearance, Kelly went deep the second time he came up to the plate in the top of the fourth inning. The blast was his first as a member of the Cubs and gave Chicago a 5-1 lead.
Carson Kelly notches his first home run as a Chicago Cub pic.twitter.com/Az1qi64dBW
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 1, 2025
Kelly batted again just an inning later. With the bases loaded, Kelly drove in two more runs via a single up the middle, extending the Cubs lead to 7-3. The 30-year-old catcher continued the Cubs’ hit parade with a double in the sixth inning.
After another walk, Kelly got his chance at a cycle in the top of the seventh. Kelly worked a full count against A’s reliever TJ McFarland. The Cubs catcher rocked an 86 mph sweeper to deep right-center field.
The ball went over the head of center fielder JJ Bleday and ricocheted off the wall. It was a picture-perfect way for the slow-footed Kelly to leg out a triple to complete the cycle.
Carson Kelly completes the 1st Cubs cycle since 1993! ⚾️pic.twitter.com/xXMY1qs3wE
— Prospect Dugout (@prospectdugout) April 1, 2025
The improbable cycle was the first in Cubs history since former All-Star Mark Grace did it in 1993.
Kelly’s cycle was one of the most unlikely in recent memory, if not MLB history. The man is a career .224 hitter who runs slowly and rarely hits for power. He entered Monday with just 54 career home runs and 2 (!!) triples over 558 games in the majors.
Carson somehow put it all together in the Cubs’ 18-3 win over the Athletics. His final line was magnificent: 4-for-4 with 5 RBI and 2 walks.
Somehow, Kelly hit for the cycle before the Boston Red Sox were able to get a single hit out of Rafael Devers.
More must-reads:
- 25 MLB players who have the most to prove in 2025
- Orioles' latest extension could spell doom for All-Star catcher
- The 'Most recent cycle by MLB team' quiz
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