Unbelievable MLB Records: The Untold Stories Behind the Most Cycles Ever Hit in a Season and Career

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.
Several rookies have hit for the cycle. The most recent 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.

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

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.

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).

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.

Most Career Cycles: 3 –Six Players Tied

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Most Cycles in Season: 2 – Five Players Tied

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Postseason Cycle: Brock Holt, 2018

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

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.

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.

Walk-offs that Completed Cycles: Five Players

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.

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 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.

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

Most Total Cycles by a Team: 24 – Pittsburgh Pirates

Ever wonder why hitting for the cycle doesn’t get the standing ovation it truly deserves? Yeah, we all cheer for the perfect game or no-hitter—those are headliners, no doubt. But here’s the kicker: the natural cycle, that precise sequence of single, double, triple, and home run, is arguably the most elusive gem in baseball’s treasure chest. Only 14 players have ever pulled it off in the modern era. Crazy, right? It’s like a secret handshake known only to the sharpest hitters and fastest feet. So, buckle up as we dive into the fascinating world of cycles—from record setters like Christian Yelich, who three-peated against the Reds, to the lone postseason cycle that lit up Yankee Stadium. Ready to uncover why this feat deserves more spotlight than it’s ever gotten? LEARN MORE

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.

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.

Fewest Total Cycles by a Team: 2 – Two Teams Tied

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.

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.

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.

Rookie Cycles

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.

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