Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguer Zach Borenstein hits for the cycle
May 17, 2015, 9:45 AM | Updated: 9:46 am
An Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguer hit for the cycle Saturday for the second time in the last two years.
Zach Borenstein accomplished the feat for Double-A Mobile in a home game against Birmingham, finishing the night 4-for-4 with three RBI and a walk.
@Mobile_BayBears #ZachBorenstein hits for the cycle in tonights game with @BhamBarons. pic.twitter.com/nsxGj4VCiw
— Paul Bowers (@vpbowers) May 17, 2015
The designated hitter started off with a first-inning single, and then he tripled to center field to lead off the third before blasting his first homer of the season — a two-run shot — to right-center field with one out in the fourth.
Needing just a double to complete the cycle, Borenstein walked to open the sixth, but he came through with a leadoff two-bagger two innings later, marking the left-handed hitter’s first cycle since April 20, 2014, when he was with Double-A Arkansas.
Despite Borenstein’s huge evening, the BayBears fell short to Birmingham 10-9, dropping to 19-17 on the season.
“Obviously, it went pretty well for me, but unfortunately, we didn’t come out on top,” the D-backs prospect told MiLB.com. “It was just one of those games. It’s baseball, it happens. But I just happened to get some pitches to hit. Some nights you foul them off and sometimes you get in bad hitter’s counts, but I was able to get some good wood on it … I have to forget about it quickly because we have another game tomorrow. This is over. It went well for me, but now I have to forget it.”
Borenstein, 24, raised his batting average with the BayBears to .429 this season with the performance. He played in 18 games with Triple-A Reno this year, but posted just a .154 batting average with three RBI.
Nothing demonstrates the spirit of baseball more than taking time with a fan. @Mobile_BayBears #18 #ZachBorenstein pic.twitter.com/bdYZOGwVYH
— Paul Bowers (@vpbowers) May 17, 2015
MiLB.com says his cycle is the sixth in the minor leagues this season, including the third in the last week and the second in as many days.
Borenstein joins a small list of Minor Leaguers to cycle twice, including Jarrett Hoffpauir (2010) and Joe Koshansky (2008).
The outfielder-designated hitter arrived in the Diamondbacks organization along with minor league pitcher Joey Krehbiel on July 2014 in exchange for relief pitcher Joe Thatcher and outfielder Tony Campana.
