JJ Bleday carved out a place in Reds history on the road, and he did it in style.
The outfielder hit for the cycle, becoming just the eighth Reds player ever to pull off the rare feat. For Cincinnati, it had been a long wait: Elly De La Cruz did it in his rookie season in 2023, and before that the last Reds cycle came all the way back in 1989, when Eric Davis did it.
Bleday’s night started with a bang in the first inning. He doubled home De La Cruz, who had opened the game with a double of his own. Then in the third, Bleday added an RBI triple to bring in Sal Stewart from first.
His only hit that didn’t drive in a run came in the fourth, when he lined a single to right. Willie Harris, the Reds’ third base coach, held De La Cruz at third on the play.
Then came the finishing touch in the sixth: Bleday sent his 21st home run of the season over the right-field wall to complete the cycle. That blast also gave the 28-year-old a new career high in home runs for a season.
The Reds were plenty intrigued when they brought Bleday in over the offseason, and president of baseball operations Nick Krall made clear why.
"Two years ago, you looked at what he was. I think he was a three-WAR player."
Krall said. "He obviously got non-tendered, and we saw an opportunity to bring in a guy that has a chance to compete for a spot.
In limited action, he had 17 doubles and 14 home runs last year and adds a little bit of left-handed power to your club. He can play in different situations.
I’m just really excited to add him and a veteran presence that knows how to play the game."
Bleday also earned National League Player of the Month for May earlier this season. He began the year at Triple-A and hit .341/.462/.659 there, with six home runs, seven doubles, a triple and 19 RBI.
After being recalled on April 25, he kept rolling. In May, he posted a .301/.387/.631 line with eight home runs, eight doubles and 25 RBI.
It was the first Player of the Month honor of his career, and the first by a Red since Joey Votto won it in 2021.
There was one more odd wrinkle to Bleday’s cycle: it was the first time a Reds player has hit for the cycle on the road since 1915.
And as of publication, De La Cruz was one triple away from joining him. No MLB game has ever featured two players hitting for the cycle.
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