Weston Wilson, a 28-year-old rookie with over 2,500 minor league at-bats, marked his Major League debut on August 9, 2023, against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. In his debut, he hit a home run, but the spotlight was overshadowed by Michael Lorenzen’s no-hitter that day.
A year later, again facing the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, Wilson earned a rare start in left field due to the Phillies facing three consecutive left-handed pitchers. This time, he made an impact by tripling in the fourth inning and then getting an infield single as the team scored in a dominating 13-3 victory. Wilson also hit a home run in the seventh inning and completed the cycle with a double in the eighth.
His achievement made him the first Phillies player since J.T. Realmuto on June 12, 2023, to hit for the cycle and the first at Citizens Bank Park since David Bell on June 28, 2004. Wilson also became the first rookie in Phillies history to achieve this feat.
As he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning against right-hander Orlando Ribalta, he was aware of the cycle at stake thanks to teammate Bryce Harper’s encouragement. Fans in the stands also provided updates as he waited. Wilson connected with a 2-2 fastball, and while it looked like right fielder Alex Call might make a remarkable catch, the ball slipped out, allowing Wilson to reach second base safely.
The crowd, including his wife Madison, gave Wilson a standing ovation after he completed the cycle. His journey began with a challenging triple, where he nearly stumbled around second base but managed to recover.
Later, he hit a blooper that fell in front of second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. Then he hit a first-pitch fastball for a home run in the seventh inning, realizing that he might have another chance for an at-bat later.
After the game, Wilson turned much of his game equipment over to MLB for authentication, though he kept his batting gloves. Reflecting on the experience, he expressed gratitude for his team and was thrilled to finally be featured on the Star of the Game postgame show, an achievement he had watched often in videos.