Unbelievable MLB Records: Who Holds the Most Cycles Ever and What Makes Their Feats Legendary?

Here’s a little something for the baseball purists, the stat junkies, and even the casual fans who might not realize just how jaw-droppingly difficult it is to hit for the cycle—let alone do it in order. We all drool over perfect games and no-hitters, and sure, those brilliant moments deserve the hype. Don Larsen’s immaculate 1956 World Series perfecto? Legendary stuff. And who can forget the sheer power and rarity of a four-homer night? J.D. Martinez did it in 2017, a feat that’s been checked off just 16 times in over a century. But the natural cycle? That’s a different beast altogether—an underdog achievement that quietly demands the rarest combination of skill, speed, and a dash of fortune.

Think about it: singles and doubles happen with some regularity, home runs get their fair share of spotlight, but a triple? That’s the elusive jewel in the crown, the hardest to come by. Now, imagine stringing together a single, double, triple, and home run in perfect sequence, all in one game. Only 14 players in the modern era have pulled off this majestic feat. That scarcity alone ought to make every cycle a moment worthy of a standing ovation—not to mention the record-holding hitters who have made it look sort of routine, even while tormenting specific teams. Is it the most underrated milestone in baseball history? I’d argue it’s right up there, beside the game’s greatest shows of pitching dominance.

So buckle up as we mosey through the archives and break down everything from multiple cycles in a season, postseason cycles (yes, only one!), walk-off cycles, to the rookie prodigies who’ve stunned the league with this rare gem. Ready to dive deep and perhaps rethink what you thought was impossible in baseball? Let’s go.

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Since 1961, only five players have achieved the impressive individual feat by slugging a walk-off homer.

Sure, the perfect game and no-hitters get all the attention. There have been 23 instances of an individual finishing off a perfecto throughout Major League Baseball history, including Don Larsen’s gem for the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

While the Rockies have hit nine cycles at home since the team started in the National League in 1994, the Florida/Miami Marlins finally had their first when Luis Arraez did it on April 11, 2023 at Philadelphia before rookie Xavier Edwards made it two on July 28, 2024.

The most recent rookie cycle was accomplished by Xavier Edwards of the Miami Marlins against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28, 2024. He became the second rookie to hit for a cycle in 2024 after Wyatt Langford of the Texas Rangers did it against the Baltimore Orioles on June 30.

So let’s continue our celebration of the cycle and widen our breakdown to the record-holding hitters in several of the different ways the feat can be accomplished:

Most Career Cycles: 3 –Six Players Tied

But then there’s the natural cycle. It’s the often forgotten – or even unknown – feat of hitting for the cycle in order (a single, then double, then triple and finally the home run). According to MLB, there have been only 14 of these naturals in the modern era – the last by Gary Matthews Jr. of the Texas Rangers in 2006. 

Nolan Arenado was with the Colorado Rockies when he had the most recent one against the San Francisco Giants on June 18, 2017. Former teammate Carlos Gonzalez also did it at the ballpark known as Coors Field against the Chicago Cubs on July 31, 2010.

With the triple being the most difficult of the single, double, triple and home run combination needed to complete the cycle, it makes sense that speedy players like Yelich and Trea Turner would be on the list. The Philadelphia Phillies infielder achieved all three of his cycles while with the Washington Nationals.

Considered one of the best third basemen of all time, this is another reason why many believe Adrián Beltré will get voted in when he’s slated to appear on his first Hall of Fame ballot in 2024.

Across the long, storied history of the game, there has only been one cycle during the postseason. And it occurred not all that long ago.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that since the franchise came into existence in 1994, the Rockies have recorded more cycles at home than any other team with nine. The Texas Rangers rank second with six and the Washington Nationals third with five.

Most Cycles in Season: 2 – Five Players Tied

Aaron Hill’s cycles for the Arizona Diamondbacks came just 11 days apart in 2012, but they weren’t the fewest days between cycles in MLB history.

George Brett had a walk-off dinger and hit for the cycle against the Baltimore Orioles on May 28, 1979, but it was his second homer of the game and he had already reached the cycle earlier.

Herman’s .393 average, 241 hits and 416 total bases in 1930 remain Dodgers franchise records. The right fielder also finished with 35 home runs and 130 RBIs that season.

We referenced Yelich’s two cycles against the poor Reds in 2018. Well, believe it or not, he’s not the only player to have multiple cycles in one season.

The Postseason Cycle: Brock Holt, 2018

John Reilly of the Cincinnati Red Stockings had one on Sept. 12, 1883 against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and again on Sept. 19 against the Philadelphia Athletics. And Tip O’Neill of the St. Louis Browns hit for the cycle on April 30, 1887 versus the Cleveland Blues and again on May 7 against the Louisville Colonels.

The St. Louis Cardinals have 19 cycles all time, while the Oakland A’s have 17 to round out the top five.

Everyone marvels over the elusive four-homer game, with J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox pulling off the last one on Sept. 4, 2017. There have been 16 of these long-ball fests since the start of the modern era in 1901.

Walk-offs that Completed Cycles: Five Players Tied

The previously mentioned Herman did it in 1931 – a year after his magical 1930 campaign, though Yelich is the only player to do it twice in one season against the same team.

We won’t hold it against Holt that he sealed the historic performance with a home run in the ninth off a position player (Austin Romine). It all looks the same in the box score.

It might be the most underrated, underappreciated and arguably most difficult feat in all of baseball.

The Tampa Bay Rays have also only had two cycles since joining the league in 1998. Evan Longoria’s fabulous day versus the Houston Astros on Aug. 1, 2017 marked the second cycle after Melvin Upton Jr. had the first cycle against the Yankees on Oct. 2, 2009.

Most Cycles by a Team: 24 – Pittsburgh Pirates

Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers tormented the Cincinnati Reds throughout early in his career. The two-time All-Star hit .283 with 20 home runs and 62 RBIs – his most homers and RBIs versus any opponent – through his first 93 meetings.

The post The Most Cycles in a Season, Career and More in MLB History appeared first on Opta Analyst.

Babe Herman is not to be confused with George Herman Ruth Jr., who one might say had a pretty good career under the name Babe Ruth. Herman wasn’t bad himself, ending up with a career .324 batting average over a 13-year run with the Brooklyn Robins (later Dodgers – two stints), Reds (two stints), Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers between 1926-45.

Fewest Cycles by a Team: 2 – Two Teams Tied

But he’s also hit all three of his MLB record-tying three cycles against the Reds: one at Cincinnati on Aug. 28, 2018, another almost just one month later at home on Sept. 17, 2018 and a third at Great American Ballpark on May 11, 2022.

It was the first time in MLB history that two rookies have hit for a cycle in the same season. Here is the complete list:

In Game 3 of the 2018 American League Division Series, Brock Holt of the Boston Red Sox turned the trick against the rival Yankees. The veteran utility man went 4 for 6 with five RBIs and 10 total bases in the 16-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Rookie Cycles

The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the most cycles of any franchise throughout MLB history with 24. John Jaso was the last to do it on Sept. 28, 2016 against the Cubs, who would recover and be just fine the rest of the way.

The San Francisco Giants are next with 23 cycles (Pablo Sandoval had the last one in 2011 at Colorado) and the Boston Red Sox third with 22. Star outfielder Mookie Betts had the last regular-season cycle for the Red Sox against the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018, though Holt’s playoff cycle was the last one overall.

Cycles by Rookies – All Time (Regular Season Only)

The Toronto Blue Jays (Biggio, Jeff Frye in 2001 and Kelly Gruber in 1989) and San Diego Padres (Jake Cronenworth in 2021, Wil Myers in 2017 and Matt Kemp in 2015) have accomplished the feat three times, while the Seattle Mariners have had four (Beltré in 2008, John Olerud in 2001, Alex Rodriguez in 1997 and Jay Buhner in 1993).