JJ Bleday Becomes Eighth Reds Player Ever to Accomplish Rare Feat

Bleday's Historic Night

JJ Bleday of the Cincinnati Reds hit for the cycle against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 17, becoming the eighth player in franchise history to achieve the feat, as reported by Sports Illustrated. Bleday's accomplishment marked the first time a Reds player had hit for the cycle since Elly De La Cruz did so in 2023, and Eric Davis had been the last before that in 1989.

The 28-year-old outfielder started the game with an RBI double in the first inning, scoring De La Cruz. He added an RBI triple in the third, a single in the fourth, and completed the cycle with his 21st home run of the season in the sixth inning. The home run set a career high for Bleday, according to Sports Illustrated.

Sports Illustrated noted that this was the first cycle by a Reds player on the road since 1915, and that De La Cruz was a triple shy of also hitting for the cycle in the same game.

Bleday, who won National League Player of the Month for May, began the season in Triple-A before being recalled on April 25. Reds' president of baseball operations Nick Krall commented on Bleday's signing, saying, "We saw an opportunity to bring in a guy that has a chance to compete for a spot... I’m just really excited to add him and a veteran presence that knows how to play the game."

A Well-Deserved Rest

Following his historic performance, Bleday received his first day off since the start of July, according to NBC Sports. The outfielder had been a regular in the lineup, and the day off came after he hit his 18th home run during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Cleveland.

NBC Sports reported that Bleday has cooled off considerably following a hot return to the big leagues earlier in the season, but he still managed five home runs in 22 games in August. In his place, rookie Ivan Johnson started in left field on Wednesday evening.

Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Louisville, where he had been hitting .278/.373/.474 in 61 games with 10 home runs and 11 steals. The 27-year-old had gone 0-for-5 in four games in his first MLB stint earlier this season, and was 1-for-12 with six strikeouts and two walks in 14 plate appearances for the Reds this year. Johnson was backing up at both second base and first base.

NBC Sports also noted that Johnson would be on the bench on Monday, with TJ Friedl starting in left field and Bleday moving to right field. That lineup could be the regular lineup against right-handed pitchers for the next few weeks.