When you attend any sporting event, one of the most fun things about being in attendance is that you might see something you have never seen before. Even if you have attended thousands of games in a sport, there is always the possibility of seeing something new.
This is what makes sports exciting. You just never know what you will see or experience whether you are playing the game or watching the game. The possibilities can keep you on the edge of your seat.
Here at sportswarrior365, we love many sports and stay involved in coaching and playing the sports we write about. Sports can be great in so many different ways. Baseball is something we played growing up and still coach to this day. It is full of possibilities.
Baseball is a unique game in its own right. The game is slower paced and driven by numbers. It is unique as there is always the chance of seeing something every time you play or watch. One of those possibilities is someone hitting for a cycle in baseball.
What Is A Cycle in Baseball?
A cycle in baseball occurs when a hitter, over the course of the game, hits a single, double, triple, and a homerun at any point throughout the game and in any order. This is quite the feat and the stats show the probability of hitting a cycle are very low.
The numbers from the 2009 season show a hitter has a chance of hitting for a cycle at the rate of .0059. This equals about 2.5 cycles per 162 game season in the major leagues with a total of 30 teams.
This is an incredibly low number and shows how difficult and unlikely that a cycle is accomplished in a game.
Could you imagine being at one of the games when this rare occurrence happens? As the hitter comes to the plate, late in the game, many people in attendance know there is the possibility of that last needed hit. Maybe it is a homerun or even a triple.
The crowd starts to buzz as the hitter swings and drives a hit deep into one of the allies. The excitement feels the stadium with energy and you share the moment with those around you. You leave the game knowing you just saw something that doesn’t happen very often.
Below we provide answers to many of the common questions asked about the cycle in baseball. I have been to over 100 major league baseball games in my life and have never witnessed one in person. Several times a player has come close, but I have never seen one in person.
I have been there for a no hitter, where the home team actually won. Can you imagine that? Yes, it was crazy to see my team win and be no hit at the same time. The game I was at had Matt Young of the Red Sox no hit the Cleveland Indians on April 12, 1992.
The ironic part about that day was Roger Clemens pitched the second game of the double header and shut out the Indians. Talk about a long day at the ballpark!
Here is a list of times a pitcher threw a no hitter and still lost.
Enough about no hitters, let’s get back to hitting for the cycle.
Why is a Cycle So Difficult?
Well, first off, a hitter has to get 4 hits, which is somewhat unlikely. Then another component of this is hitting for a triple which is also very unlikely. Then a hitter also has to hit a home run, which for some players doesn’t happen to frequently.
Overall, everything has to fall in place. The triple is the most unlikely component of the cycle because the ball typically has to be hit down the right field line and have the ball bounce in the right way or hit one of the gaps and hope for a favorable bounce.
The single and the double are pretty common place in baseball and are the easiest of the hits to get. But, getting both a triple and a homerun in a game is unlikely. In recent years homeruns have taken over triples because of several key factors.
What skills are needed to hit for a Cycle?
The two most essential skills for a cycle are power and speed. First, you must have enough power to hit a home run. Many players might only hit 10-20 home runs per season.
As far as speed, the batter must possess enough speed to maybe push the limit and go for the triple. Some hitters might only hit 1-2 triples a year if they don’t have top end speed.
Speed is something difficult to develop late in life, but with the right training speed can be built in kids. The modern all star in today’s game can typically do it all.
You see less and less specialization in baseball as the best players are 5 tool stars. Read our 5 tool article, here. You will find tips to help a player become a 5 tool player. A 5 tool player is a scouts dream and has a greater chance of hitting for the cycle and creating some history.
Who has the most career cycles in the Major Leagues?
The most cycles ever hit in a career is 3. Four different players have accomplished this task. In all of Major League Baseball History there have only been 330 total cycles. This is truly amazing and shows how rare the cycle in baseball is. It is crazy when you think of how many home runs are now hit and in the long history of the game the cycle has only happened several hundred times.
The players with the most career cycles in the major leagues include:
- John Reilly
- Bob Meusel
- Babe Herman
- Adrian Beltre
Which of the 4 types of hits is most difficult to get with a cycle?
The triple by far is the most difficult. Singles, doubles and home runs have become routine in baseball. The triple takes a well placed hit down into a corner and a base runner with above average speed.
Only 2% of the hits in today’s game result in a triple game. This has changed in recent time with the strength of players increasing and the size of ballparks decreasing. Many of the old stadiums were multiple purpose and hosted baseball and football which created plenty of space in the outfield.
Today ballparks are smaller and built specifically for baseball. For example, Camden Yards in Baltimore and Progressive Field in Cleveland. These two ballparks, designed and built in the mid 1990s, were the examples of what future baseball only stadiums could be like.
These new ballparks provided a more intimate feeling in the ballpark and got away from the cookie cutter round multi purpose stadiums that were built in the early and mid 1900s. These ballparks provided less space in the gaps.
Would you rather see a cycle or a player hit 4 home runs in a game?
There is something extra special about a 3-4 home run game by a single player. The home run is the most exciting play in baseball and many fans love to see the long ball. That’s why they have home runs derbys in all levels of baseball.
Being at a majorLeague stadium and hearing the crack of the bat and the ball launching over the hole run is special and entertaining. However, there is also something special about the cycle due to how infrequently it occurs.
We all love the game of baseball. Many people are fans, coaches, parents or players. Regardless of where you are at in your journey with baseball, these tips below might be helpful for you as a player or if you are parent or coach. We are always trying to advance the game here at sportswarrior365 and help our readers.
5 Tips for Hitting for a Cycle
Tip # 1 – Make Better Contact
Sounds pretty obvious, but the key to maximizing your at bats is making solid contact a higher percentage of time and getting the ball in play. Players need to make sure they are hitting the center of the barrell.
This means swinging at good pitches and not chasing bad pitches. Too often, when we are in slumps, it is due to swing at bad pitches which leads to no contact or poor contact.
Tip # 2 – Increase Exit Speed
Second, once solid contact is a given. Increasing the exit speed will increase the number of extra base hits. The best way to make sure this is happening is through increasing swing speed and center of the barrel contact. Reps are important for center barrel contact and swing speed protocols can help add swing speed.
Here is a swing speed protocol that works. We recommend the SuperSpeed Slugger System found, here. Here is a video on their swing speed protocols to increase base speed:
Tip # 3 – Be A Discipline Hitter
Swinging at quality pitches is the best way to become a better hitter. There aren’t many great hitters in the history of the game that swing at bad pitches consistently.
A hitter must be able to work the count and force the pitcher to bring a fastball over the plate. Being aware of the situation and what the pitcher is trying to do is key.
Make sure you are watching while not at bat to see what the pitcher is doing in certain situations. We always stress this with our players as we believe it helps players as they advance to new levels and helps players reach their peak performance.
There is a fine line between being tentative at the plate and making good decisions. We want our hitters to be aggressive early on in the count with fastballs.
Tip # 4 – Get Faster
Speed in baseball is a great tool to have. If you want to help your team and be able to take the extra base, then you must have above a her age speed. This will not only help with infield hits, but it will help the hitter stretch singles into doubles and doubles into triples.
Over the course of a season this can mean extra runs for your team. Here is a video below that can help you increase your running speed:
Tip #5 – Have Fun
Too many parents or coaches can ruin the game for youngsters. Instead, whether you play, coach or parent, make the experience fun. Think of how fortunate you are to be involved with the game of baseball and the many lessons and friendships that can be experienced and enjoyed. Stay patient in the development of a player and keep working hard.
And Finally…Take Action!
Baseball is a game for a lifetime. It can be enjoyed whether you are playing or watching. There is something special about the start of each baseball season as it represents the bringing of spring and the end of winter.
This is special in many parts of the world. Find a way to enjoy the game and get involved. Here at sportswarrior365 sports have been a big part of our life as players, coaches and parents. We hope that all help instill the love of the game and keep it around for many more generations.
More and more training and time is now spent on all sports and we have to watch for burnout. However, sports helps keep kids out of trouble and provides adults a break from the stresses of life whether you still play or are a fan.
What is your favorite sport? We have plenty of posts on other sports such as football, soccer, basketball and even racquetball.
Whether you are a player, coach, parent or fan, we are here to help! Check out some of our best tips which can be found in many of our posts.
