Carson Kelly was on the brink of achieving a rare feat—hitting for the cycle—but the elusive triple had always been a hurdle. Despite a decade-long major league career, he had only managed two triples before Monday night.
That changed when Kelly became the first Chicago Cubs player in 32 years to hit for the cycle. He completed the feat with a triple in the eighth inning during an 18-3 victory over the Athletics, breaking the National League’s longest cycle drought without a team accomplishment.
Adding to the excitement, Kelly also drew two walks in the first major league game held at Sutter Health Park, the minor league venue now serving as the Athletics’ home for the season.
“I’ve been in this position before, needing a triple for the cycle,” said Kelly, 30. “If anyone’s looked at my stats, I’ve got two triples, so the odds weren’t exactly in my favor. I didn’t get it done the first time, but this time I thought, ‘I’m just going to have a good at-bat.’ I hit it and thought, ‘Oh yeah, pretty good.’ Then I saw it ricochet, and I knew—‘Oh boy, this is it.’ That’s probably the fastest you’ll ever see me run.”
Carson Kelly had an outstanding performance, hitting a home run in the fourth inning, a two-run single in the fifth, a double and a walk in the sixth, and finally completing the cycle with a triple in the eighth. The last Chicago Cubs player to achieve this feat was Mark Grace on May 9, 1993, against San Diego—just a year before Kelly was born in 1994.
Since Grace’s cycle, the Cubs have had 342 near-cycles, where players were just one hit short of completing the achievement.
No Cubs catcher had achieved this feat since Randy Hundley did so on August 11, 1966, against Houston.
Carson Kelly also became just the third major leaguer to hit for the cycle and draw two walks in the same game. Joe Gordon accomplished it for the Yankees in 1940, while Mickey Cochrane did it for the Philadelphia A’s in 1937.
The Royals currently hold the longest active drought without a cycle in the majors, with George Brett being the last Kansas City player to achieve it on July 25, 1990, against Toronto.
Carson Kelly’s run-scoring triple made it 17-3, marking his third career triple, which left him thrilled.
“I’ve had triples before, but both times the guys ahead of me fell—ran into the wall and went down,” he said. “The odds aren’t exactly in your favor with that.”
This time, the ball bounced off the wall in right-center, and Kelly sprinted as fast as he could.
“I didn’t realize he was close to hitting for the cycle, but when that ball ricocheted off the wall, the dugout went crazy, so I figured something special was happening,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “Days like that are fun, rare, and once-in-a-lifetime for players.”
Before the game, Kelly even brought out a new bat, joking, “One and done.”
He was amazed it had been so long since a Cubs player last hit for the cycle.
“I know Mark Grace, too, from Arizona. I’ll have to reach out to him,” Kelly said. “It’s pretty special, a great accomplishment—something I never thought I’d achieve. I’m incredibly fortunate and blessed. A lot of hard work, amazing teammates supporting me. Overall, it was just a very special night.”
