text: what does pitching for the cycle mean??   it is a hitting cycle, not pitching cycle.  in baseball, a player hits for the cycle when he hits a single, a double, a triple and a home run in the same game, though not necessarily in that order. collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle".  the feat is rare in major league baseball as it requires a game of no fewer than four hits, and the unusual combination of a home run, which requires a batter to hit for some power, and a triple, which requires a batter to have some speed on the basepaths. thus, "hitting for the cycle" demonstrates excellence in three of the five "tools" of baseball (see five-tool player). the accomplishment is held in high enough esteem that players needing only a single to "complete the cycle" have been known to "hold up" at first base on balls hit in the alley. there are only 3 teams to never hit the cycle – the san diego padres, florida marlins and tampa bay devil rays.  the last person who hit the cycle: june 21, 2006 josé reyes new york (nl)