Chicago Cubs-Catcher Carson Kelly hit the cycle under the team’s 18-3 rutor over athletics on Monday night in Sutter Health Park.
Kelly, 30, hit a home drive in the fourth round and a two-run single in the fifth lap and doubled and went in the sixth lap.
He had been a triple away from a cycle a few times before, and he knew that the odds were stacked against him to get the evasive triple.
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Chicago Cubs Catcher Carson Kelly, Center, is congratulated by teammates during the eighth round after hitting the cycle against the athletics in Sutter Health Park 31 March 2025. (Sergio Estrada/Imag images)
“I’ve been in the same position before where I needed a triple for the cycle. If anyone has ever looked up in my numbers, I have two triple, so odds are not to my advantage, right?” Said Kelly after the game.
“I didn’t get it done the first time. This time I’m like, ‘Oh, I just want to put a good bat together.’ Hit it, like ‘Oh yeah, pretty good.’ Then I hit (first base) and saw it ricochet and I was like, ‘Oh boy, this is right here I have to go.’ It’s probably the fastest you’ll ever see me running.
With the eighth immediately triple, Kelly became the first Cubs player since Mark Grace, who hit the cycle. The former first Baseman made it May 9, 1993 against San Diego Padres. Kelly is the first Cubs catcher to hit the cycle since Randy Hundley did it August 11, 1966.
Kelly said he knows Grace.
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Chicago Cubs Catcher Carson Kelly is interviewed after the match against athletics. Kelly hit Cycle 31 March 2025. (Sergio Estrada/Imag images)
“I also know Mark Grace in Arizona. I have to hit him up,” Kelly said. “Pretty special. Great achievement. Something I never thought I would get. I’m just very lucky and blessed. Very hard work, a lot of good teammates pumping me up. So all in all, just a very special evening.”
Kelly also became just the third big Leaguer to hit the cycle and went twice in the same game. Joe Gordon did it for New York Yankees in 1940, and Mickey Cochrane did so in 1937 for the Philadelphia A’s.
While Kelly knew he was going for the cycle, his manager, Craig Counsell, didn’t.
“I didn’t realize he had a chance for a cycle, but when the ball kicked the wall, Dugout started to go crazy. So I figured something was going on,” Counsell said. “They are fun days, they are rare days and they are a time-in-life-type days for players.”
Chicago Cubs Catcher Carson Kelly hits a triple to hit the cycle during the eighth round against the athletics of Sutter Health Park 31 March 2025. (Sergio Estrada/Imag images)
Kansas City Royals now holds the longest stretch without a cycle. Franchisle George Brett was the last royal to hit the cycle on July 25, 1990, against Toronto Blue Jays.
Cubs (3-4) plays athletics (2-3) Tuesday at. 22.05 one in the second game in their three-game series.
