Reds' JJ Bleday hits for fourth MLB cycle this season

Cincinnati Reds outfielder JJ Bleday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Reds' JJ Bleday hits for fourth MLB cycle this season

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Aug 22, 2026 11:10 PM ET

Ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline, the Cincinnati Reds were expected to be among the top sellers, as they had several players on expiring contracts.

One of those players was outfielder JJ Bleday, but he was ultimately not traded. Bleday remained with Cincinnati, and that turned out well for him as he became the fourth player this season to hit for the cycle.

Bleday's sixth-inning home run in Saturday's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks gave him his first career cycle and the fourth of the season in MLB, joining Pete Crow-Armstrong, Tristan Peters and Bryce Harper.

Bleday is the first Reds player to hit for the cycle since Elly De La Cruz in 2023 and the 12th player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Double
Triple
Single
Home Run

A historic day for JJ Bleday! pic.twitter.com/z5pm3KGDcE
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2026

JJ Bleday had a career night

It was Bleday's first four-hit game of the season, and the home run to secure the cycle was his 21st of the season, a new career high.

Bleday's 10 total bases on Saturday were a career high, surpassing the nine he collected in a 4-for-4 performance in August 2025.

Cincinnati nearly had two cycles in one game

The aforementioned De La Cruz finished a triple shy of the second cycle of his career in Saturday's win.

If he had gotten it, the Reds would've become the first team in MLB history to have two teammates hit for the cycle in the same game.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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