Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco hits for first cycle of 2019, earliest by date in MLB history
The first cycle of the 2019 baseball season arrived on Friday, and it came courtesy of Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco.
He did so in the minimum four at-bats, tripling in the first inning, singling in the third, homering in the fifth and doubling in the seventh. With the Twins trailing the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 in the seventh, Polanco led off by raking a double down the left field line to complete the feat.
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It is the 25-year-old’s first career cycle, and the 15th in franchise history — but the first since Michael Cuddyer in 2009. It is also the first cycle in the big leagues since the Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon did it on Sept.30 of last season and the earliest cycle by date in MLB history.
Jorge Polanco of the @Twins has hit for the cycle tonight.
It's the earliest cycle (by date) in MLB history, one day ahead of Brad Wilkerson's cycle for the Nationals on April 6, 2005.#MNTwins— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) April 6, 2019
Polanco finished the game 5-for-5 after adding a single in the ninth inning. Despite his effort, the Twins still fell to Philadelphia 10-4.
The 25-year-old shortstop Minnesota this season early on with 11 hits. The Twins’ offense has been quiet to begin the campaign despite a 4-1 start, hitting just one home run before Polanco and Max Kepler went deep on Friday.
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