batting for the cycle or a no-hit game?

The center fielder accomplished the feat in just four innings in a 7-0 victory over the Washington Nationals, which ended in six episodes due to bad weather.

Hays joined the New York Mets’ Venezuelan, Eduardo Escobar, who also accomplished the feat in early June.

Why describe it as a feat and/or an achievement? Because it’s complicated. Hitting for the cycle is all about hitting a hit, double, triple and home run in a single game.

But how hard is it, and is it any more complicated than a no-hitter? Let’s review some historical data and then answer those and more questions.

How many players have hit for the cycle in history?
Any luck? As a pitcher, you can throw your best stuff and still have your opponent give you a hit in nine innings. And as a hitter, you can destroy a team’s starting and relief pitching, but not get the extra-bases required to make the cycle.

To give you an idea of how complicated the feat is, according to ESPN Data, there have only been 338 times in MLB history when a player hit for the cycle. The most recent on Wednesday was Hays, who is also the sixth member of the Orioles to do so since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954.

The others were Jonathan Villar (2019), Felix Pie (2009), Aubrey Huff (2007), Cal Ripken Jr. (1984) and Brooks Robinson (1960). Overall, he was the 11th in the franchise.

In Major League history, six players are also tied with three games hitting for the cycle: Christian Yelich, Trea Turner, Adrián Beltré, John Reilly, Babe Herman and Bob Meusel.

The team that has done it the most? The Pittsburgh Pirates with 24. They are followed by the Giants (24), Boston Red Sox (23), St. Louis Cardinals (19) and Oakland Athletics (17).

And pitchers?
The number of no-hitters in MLB since its first-ever game is pretty similar to the players who have hit for the cycle. Overall, there have been 316 no-hit games in major league history.

The pitcher with the most no-hitters? The peerless Nolan Ryan with seven. He’s followed by Sandy Koufax (4), Justin Verlander (3), Larry Corcoran (3), Bob Feller (3) and Cy Young (3).

The Los Angeles Dodgers have the most in history with 23. The Chicago White Sox have 20, the Red Sox 18, and the Chicago Cubs, Giants, and Reds all have 17.

Conclusion
Hitting for the cycle is as difficult as a no-hit game. The numbers are even: 338 vs. 316.

You can have the best swing in the world to hit any ball hard, but not enough speed to connect on a triple.

Now, in the case of a no-hitter? You can possess the best repertoire as a pitcher, but not have the physical stamina to last nine innings. In fact, during those nine episodes, you have to retire 27 batters. Therefore, either you are good enough to fan all 27, or you simply have to rely on your defense.

Unlike the player who hits for the cycle, the pitcher does not depend on himself.

In fact, a teammate might even make a mistake and cost him the no-hit game. Or who knows, even an umpire, as happened more than a decade ago with Jim Joyce, who ruined the perfect game and no-hitter for Venezuelan Armando Galarraga.

If I have my way, getting the no-hitter (which allows you to get a run, but not a hit) is a slight advantage in difficulty. And the perfect game, no way.

Anyway, both are extremely difficult and every time one of them happens, they should be highlighted to the maximum. As Leo Durocher rightly said: baseball is like going to mass. Many go, but few understand.