Kohlwey corrals cycle that eluded him in June
After falling short of the cycle on June 29 against Triple-A Oklahoma City, Taylor Kohlwey made sure to finish the job this time. In Triple-A El Paso's win over Oklahoma City a couple months ago, the 2016 21st-round selection finished 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and a single, along
After falling short of the cycle on June 29 against Triple-A Oklahoma City, Taylor Kohlwey made sure to finish the job this time.
In Triple-A El Paso's win over Oklahoma City a couple months ago, the 2016 21st-round selection finished 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles and a single, along with three RBIs.
The same fate seemed in store for the 28-year-old as he entered his fourth at-bat in Tuesday's 12-11 loss to Sugar Land. But instead of letting history repeat itself, he wrote a better ending. A line drive to center field that deflected off right fielder Corey Julks enabled Kohlwey to turn on the burners and reach third base safely to complete the cycle in the seventh inning. It was his second three-bagger of the year.
"I was just happy to get another hit," Kohlwey said. "The game was kind of back-and-forth, so I was just trying to get on base.
"I was just hustling out of the box, and then I saw the ball get away from him, and I just kept going. Try to get to third to give [Luis Campusano] an easier at-bat."
That thoughtfulness led to the 11th homer of the year by the top Padres prospect that tied the game again, 8-8.
1st: RBI single | 3rd: Solo HR | 4th: RBI Double | 7th: Triple
— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) August 10, 2022
TK completes the 4th cycle in team history!#FearTheEars pic.twitter.com/um0BVKOxtY
The cycle began with an RBI single to left in the first by the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder to spark a four-run inning. Kohlwey followed that with his 10th homer of the season, a leadoff shot to right-center in the third, and an RBI double to right in the fourth. The 28-year-old stands tied for third in the Pacific Coast League with 24 doubles and is tied for second with 112 hits on the season.
Kohlwey has 31 multihit games this season and a six-game on-base streak to begin August. For a player already slashing .326/.418/.494, it is getting increasingly dangerous for pitchers who have to face him.
Although the signing of Juan Soto and Josh Bell before the Trade Deadline might not seem to help Kohlwey's chances of making it to the bigs as a right fielder or first baseman any better, the rising star is constantly making a case for a shot at the Majors.
"Every year, I just try to, honestly, just get better," Kohlwey said. "Try not to worry about [stats] and all that stuff."