Cubs' Kelly 1st MLB player to hit for March cycle

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly hit for the cycle against the Athletics on Monday night -- and even walked twice, too.

Kelly homered in the fourth inning, had a two-run single in the fifth, doubled and walked in the sixth, and tripled in the eighth. He became the first Cubs player to hit for the cycle since Mark Grace on May 9, 1993, against the Padres -- before Kelly was even born in 1994.

According to ESPN Research, Kelly is the first player with a cycle in the month of March, and just the 17th catcher with a cycle in MLB history. The last one from a backstop was on June 12, 2023, when J.T. Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies accomplished the feat.

And from a franchise perspective, no catcher for the Cubs had registered a cycle since Randy Hundley did so on Aug. 11, 1966, against the Houston Astros.

"He had a great night, really a historic night," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. "A catcher hitting a triple? Yeah, it was a fun night, we played a really good baseball game. And everybody who got in the game, did something good."

Kelly, who made the score 17-3 with his RBI triple, and the Cubs diffused all the buzz surrounding the Athletics' home opener in their minor league ballpark. The visitors pounded out 21 hits on Athletics pitchers en route to cruising to an 18-3 victory.

The Chicago Cubs, who already have been to Japan and Arizona before this trip, took the Athletics' opener in stride, and after a 2-4 start, they were ready to play winning baseball.

"It's a normal road trip, it just feels a little different," Cubs first baseman Justin Turner said. "Obviously, opening up here, being the first ever major league game in Sacramento is something, I guess, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing but we're here. Looking forward to going out and playing some good baseball."

So far, so good.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.