In baseball, hitting for the cycle is when a batter hits a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". The cycle is a rare feat in baseball, occurring only 344 times in Major League Baseball history. The probability of an average MLB player hitting for a cycle against an average team in a game is about 0.0059% . The most recent cycle in MLB was accomplished by José Altuve of the Houston Astros on August 28, 2023.

A natural cycle has been completed 14 times in modern MLB history, most recently by Gary Matthews Jr. of the Texas Rangers in 2006. The longest period of time between two players hitting for the cycle was five years, one month, and ten days, a drought lasting from Bill Joyces cycle in 1896 to Harry Davis in 1901. Three players—John Olerud, Bob Watson, and Michael Cuddyer—have hit for the cycle in both the National and American Leagues.

The term "cycle" refers to the accomplishment of getting one of each type of hit in a single game. The first use of the word "cycle" occurred in 1921, penned for the accomplishment of George Sisler, the 70th cycle to have occurred in baseball history at that time. The phrase "hitting for the cycle" became popular in the national newspaper media nearly five decades later.

In conclusion, hitting for the cycle is a rare and exciting feat in baseball, and it refers to a batter hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game.