Boston Red Sox infielder Brock Holt is nicknamed "Brock Star" according to Baseball-Reference. He more than lived up to that moniker Tuesday hitting for the cycle against the Atlanta Braves.
Holt wasted no time getting to work. He led off for Boston, and, in his first at-bat, ripped a double to left. He would come around to score on a Mookie Betts double later in the inning.
Holt would ground out in his second at-bat, but made sure to get back on track in the fifth inning. With two outs, Holt singled on a 91 mph offering from Julio Teheran.
He got to show off his pop in the seventh. With the bases empty, Holt managed to take Teheran deep on a 91 mph fastball. It was his second home run of the season.
Needed a triple to complete the cycle, Holt stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth with a man on first. Given that the score was 8-2, it seemed this would be Holt's final chance at the feat.
He would deliver. Holt smashed a triple to deep center. In doing so, he became the first Red Sox player since John Valentin to hit for the cycle. Valentin accomplished the deed in 1996.
Holt, who is often referenced on Twitter with "\o/," a nod to "Arrested Development" character Steve Holt, increased his slash line to .309/.400/.454 with the four-hit game.
Baseball Prospectus contributor Zachary Levine summed up Holt's performance efficiently.
Michael Cuddyer was the last player to hit for the cycle. He do so last August, as a member of the Colorado Rockies. Cuddyer's cycle was the only one hit last season, the first time that has happened since 1994.
Whether another player can match Holt this year remains to be seen. For now, Holt picked up a pretty cool accomplishment, and is starting to look like one of the bright spots during the Red Sox's disappointing season. You might even be inclined to call him a "Brock Star."
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