Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first Major League Baseball player to hit for the cycle this season during Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
The 24-year-old completed the historic milestone by the seventh inning, securing a single after already logging a home run, triple, and double.
He opened the game with a leadoff home run against Colorado starter Michael Lorenzen before adding a third-inning triple and a fifth-inning double.
Joining franchise royalty
The rising star is only the 13th player in franchise history to achieve the rare hitting cycle.
He also becomes the youngest Cubs player to accomplish the feat since Randy Hundley managed it back in 1966.
His achievement follows team-mate Carson Kelly, who recorded the club’s last cycle in March of the previous season.
Across the wider league, it marks the first cycle since Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton reached the milestone last July.
A blistering run of form
The American outfielder has been in phenomenal form recently, collecting 13 hits over his past six appearances.
Eight of those recent hits have gone for extra bases, catapulting his on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) to a stellar .845.
He had already threatened to make history just two days earlier, falling a triple shy of the cycle during Saturday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.
Despite the celebratory mood following his seventh-inning single, the young talent was quickly picked off at first base by Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto carried a no-hit bid into the ninth inning before Tristan Peters homered, but the Los Angeles Dodgers still secured a dominant 7-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
The Japanese right-hander retired his first 23 batters at Rate Field before a fielding error by Mookie Betts ended his pursuit of a perfect game in the eighth.
He was ultimately replaced by Alex Vesia after giving up a 96.6 mph leadoff drive in the final frame, departing the mound to a standing ovation from the 37,832 fans in attendance.
The 27-year-old struck out seven across his commanding 109-pitch performance to secure his fourth consecutive win of the campaign.
Muncy and Ohtani provide the firepower
Max Muncy delivered a standout offensive display for the visitors, homering twice and driving in four runs to ensure the victory.
His contributions helped the National League West contenders bounce back emphatically from an 8-2 defeat in Friday’s series opener.
Shohei Ohtani also made an immediate impact upon returning to the lineup following a brief absence due to left knee inflammation.
The two-time Most Valuable Player launched a 409-foot leadoff blast in the first inning off starting pitcher Sean Burke.
White Sox home winning streak snapped
Chicago entered the contest having won eight consecutive home games, representing their best run in front of their own fans since August 2020.
However, Burke struggled to contain the formidable visiting lineup, conceding four runs and six hits across four innings of work.
The defeat halts the momentum of the home side, while the Los Angeles club continue to demonstrate their championship credentials.
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez has suffered a broken bone in his left hand during Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers and faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines.
The 33-year-old sustained the fractured hamate bone while swinging the bat to lead off the fifth inning.
Manager Stephen Vogt confirmed the extent of the damage following the game after imaging tests revealed the break.
Major blow for reigning champions
Losing the seven-time All-Star represents a significant setback for the two-time defending American League Central champions.
The switch-hitter is widely regarded as the cornerstone of the Cleveland franchise.
Despite his talismanic status, the veteran infielder had been enduring a difficult season at the plate, batting just .238 with 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in prior to this setback.
Recurring hand issues compound injury woes
This is not the first time the Dominican star has encountered this specific issue, having previously fractured his right hamate bone in 2019.
That earlier injury sidelined him for over a month and currently stands as his only career stint on the injured list.
Cleveland’s physical problems compounded early in Saturday’s contest as two further players were forced out of the action.
Chase DeLauter exited with a bruised right rib cage, while fellow outfielder Angel Martinez sustained a bruised foot after fouling off a pitch.
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hit a grand slam and a two-run homer in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
The left-handed slugger initially drove in two runs with an opposite-field strike.
He then returned to the plate to clear the bases with a two-out shot to centre field.
His remarkable effort secured six runs batted in during a dominant nine-run opening frame for the visiting side.
Matching a baseball legend
Since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920, such an explosive start has been exceptionally rare.
Only Hall of Fame icon David Ortiz has previously recorded two home runs and six RBIs in a first inning, achieving the feat in 2008.
Leading the major leagues
The 28-year-old Cuban now boasts 24 home runs for the current season.
This impressive tally ensures the former American League Rookie of the Year leads the AL standings.
He is currently tied with Philadelphia Phillies standout Kyle Schwarber for the overall Major League Baseball lead.
A proven postseason performer
The three-time All-Star has consistently delivered on baseball’s biggest stages throughout his career.
He was named the AL Championship Series Most Valuable Player in 2021.
The prolific batter then guided his franchise to the World Series title the following year.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was withdrawn in the seventh inning of Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to left knee inflammation.
The reigning National League MVP was replaced by a pinch hitter late in the contest, prematurely ending an otherwise flawless performance at the plate.
Before his early exit, the Japanese superstar had safely reached base in all four of his at-bats.
Impressive start curtailed
The two-way phenom had already launched his 13th home run of the season with a solo shot during the third inning.
He supplemented that power display with a single and two walks, underlining his vital importance to the Los Angeles lineup.
It remains unclear exactly when the 30-year-old first began experiencing discomfort in his joint.
Further injury woes for Dodgers
The evening proved costly for the visiting side, who also lost starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski to a fitness issue.
The American left-hander was forced off the mound in the fifth inning after suffering a right hamstring contusion.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will now be sweating on the fitness of both players as the franchise navigates a grueling Major League Baseball regular-season schedule.
Shohei Ohtani was left to rue a missed automated ball-strike challenge as the Los Angeles Dodgers surrendered a five-run lead in a dramatic 9-8 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
The two-way Japanese superstar cruised through the first six innings on the mound before a disastrous seventh frame changed the complexion of the game.
Los Angeles had appeared firmly in control after Ryan Ward hit his first career grand slam to build a commanding advantage.
Costly hesitation in the seventh inning
A rare collapse from the two-time defending World Series champions began when Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe stepped up to the plate with two runners on base.
Ohtani fell behind 3-0 in the count after home plate umpire Felix Neon ruled two borderline 98mph fastballs as balls.
Catcher Dalton Rushing opted not to use the automated ball-strike (ABS) system, and the pitcher chose to defer to his rookie team-mate.
Lowe immediately capitalised, punishing a fastball down the middle for a two-run double that ended Ohtani’s pitching performance.
“I usually let the catchers make that determination,” Ohtani explained after the game.
“But looking back, I think situationally, how important it was that at-bat, looking back I think I could have done a few challenges.”
Bullpen collapse compounds struggles
The 30-year-old was already battling a blister on his right hand, which temporarily limited the deployment of his devastating split-fingered fastball.
Despite the physical hindrance, he remained in solid shape before uncharacteristically allowing season highs in hits, runs, and earned runs.
Manager Dave Roberts defended his players’ decision-making, describing the pitch challenge system as an “inexact science”.
Even after Lowe’s vital double and a subsequent fielding error by third baseman Max Muncy, the visitors retained a two-run lead heading into the eighth inning.
Rookies inspire spectacular Pirates rally
The Dodgers boasted a formidable 36-3 record when leading after seven innings this season, making the subsequent bullpen meltdown highly unusual.
Tyler Callihan sparked the late surge with a devastating three-run home run in the eighth inning, having already hit his first career major league blast earlier in the contest.
Spencer Horwitz then delivered the decisive blow, crushing a two-run homer that provided Pittsburgh with a crucial cushion.
The Japanese talisman attempted to single-handedly salvage the game in the top of the ninth inning by launching a two-run home run of his own.
Ultimately, the dramatic late response fell just short, sealing a spectacular victory for the resilient hosts.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski threw the fastest pitch by a starter since tracking began in 2008 when he clocked 103.7 mph against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
The 24-year-old right-hander delivered the historic low-and-outside fastball to Kyle Karros during the third inning in Denver.
He dominated the opposition throughout the evening, throwing an astonishing 52 pitches at 100 mph or faster.
That display of elite velocity included a record-breaking 45 deliveries clocking in at 101 mph or more.
Elite strikeout pace puts youngster among greats
The Brewers ace struck out eight batters over seven outstanding innings, allowing just a single unearned run to lower his season ERA to a stellar 1.50.
His performance also pushed his career strikeout total to 203 in just 28 major league appearances.
Reaching the milestone at such blistering speed ties the rising star with Paul Skenes and Noah Syndergaard as the seventh-fastest to achieve the feat in MLB history.
He now owns the 12 fastest pitches thrown by any starting pitcher this season, comfortably surpassing his previous high of 103.4 mph set in May.
Chasing Chapman’s ultimate velocity record
While the Wisconsin franchise’s standout has rewritten the history books for starters, the ultimate velocity crown remains elsewhere.
Aroldis Chapman still holds the outright record for the fastest pitch thrown by any reliever or starter since 2008.
The veteran closer unleashed an untouchable 105.8 mph fastball during his time with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010.
New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells has been placed on the injured list with cervical headaches, joining key absentees Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the sidelines.
Wells was a late scratch before Saturday’s postponed game against the Boston Red Sox.
The left-handed batter has struggled immensely at the plate during the 2026 season.
His .533 on-base plus slugging (OPS) ranks 212th out of 217 qualified Major League Baseball players.
Catching crisis deepens for Boone
Manager Aaron Boone was forced into an unexpected roster shuffle following the medical diagnosis.
J.C. Escarra has been recalled from Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace the injured backstop on the active roster.
The American League franchise had only optioned Escarra late on Friday night to make room for right-handed hitter Ali Sánchez.
Sánchez was scheduled to start the weekend matchup before adverse weather forced a postponement until August.
Boone told reporters when discussing the sudden roster changes:
“Hopefully Ali can come up here and provide a little bit of a spark and a different look, too.”
Rice option weighed amid major injuries
The Bronx Bombers are already navigating a severe injury crisis involving their most prolific batters.
Captain Aaron Judge is currently sidelined for an extended period with a stress fracture in his ribs.
Meanwhile, veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton has been out since late April with a calf strain, though he is expected to return in two to three weeks.
Boone admitted that shifting Ben Rice to catcher is a theoretical possibility, but stressed that such a positional move is not currently planned.
The 27-year-old has been the team’s standout hitter this season, primarily splitting his time between first base and designated hitter.
There are serious concerns that the physical demands of catching regularly could negatively impact his crucial production at the plate.