Cardinals Rookie Joshua Báez Makes MLB History with Homers in First Three At-Bats

A more perfect start to a professional career than Joshua Báez’s is simply impossible. During Saturday’s game at Wrigley Field, the St. Louis Cardinals left fielder etched his name into major league history by blasting three home runs in his very first MLB appearance, accomplishing the feat during his initial three plate appearances. His inaugural home run was crushed on the absolute first pitch he faced in the big leagues.

“This feels completely surreal, and I am at a loss for words,” Báez remarked in a televised interview following the matchup. “To be honest, it is the ultimate dream realized.”

The rookie launched his initial home run, a towering 449-foot shot, deep into the center field bleachers. His second long ball went over the left field wall, while his third cleared the fence in right. Displaying such remarkable power to all parts of the field is an outstanding achievement for any athlete, particularly a newcomer playing in his first major league game. Below are the video clips of Báez’s three historic homers during the Cardinals’ 8-4 triumph against the Chicago Cubs:

Each of the three round-trippers was surrendered by left-hander Matthew Boyd, raising eyebrows when manager Craig Counsell decided to let Boyd pitch to Báez for a third time. With Báez already having homered twice, a tight scoreline (St. Louis led 4-3 at that juncture), and Boyd’s pitch count nearing 90, the decision was questionable. Shortly after Báez’s third home run, Boyd yielded yet another home run, this time to Blaze Alexander.

“My goodness, that was spectacular to witness. He truly injects an incredible energy into our team,” stated Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. “To see him step onto the field for his debut and perform in that spectacular fashion was incredible. It brought so many smiles to the dugout, and it was just a wonderful moment to experience.”

Báez had an opportunity to secure a fourth home run during the eighth inning, but he ended up lining out to left field. He completed the contest going 3-for-4, racking up three home runs and driving in five runs.

This achievement makes Báez only the eighth baseball player in the Modern Era (dating back to 1900) to record more than one home run during a regular-season debut, and the third player to do so in the current season. Outfielder Chase DeLauter of the Cleveland Guardians accomplished this on Opening Day, though his official debut occurred in the previous year’s playoffs. Additionally, Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jose Fernandez launched a pair of home runs in his first major league game on March 31.

Listed below are the eight individuals who have registered at least two home runs in their premier Major League Baseball games:

Apart from Báez, only Nieman and Keith McDonald have ever hit home runs in both of their first two major league plate appearances. McDonald achieved his consecutive home runs with the Cardinals in 2000, though his occurred over a two-game span. He connected for a pinch-hit home run during his debut at-bat on July 4, and followed it up with another home run in his next at-bat two days later.

Furthermore, Báez is just the second athlete in history to record his first three major league homers in a single contest. Former Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala previously recorded a three-homer performance against the Guardians on July 31, 2021, which took place during his 18th game in the majors.

Báez Was the Minor League Home Run Leader Prior to Call-Up

Before earning his call-up to the majors, Báez was the top power hitter in the minor leagues with 36 home runs, all of which were hit at the Triple-A level. Over 103 games in Triple-A, he put up a stat line of .256/.328/.573 and even delivered a spectacular four-homer performance in June. His transition to the big leagues was highly anticipated and richly deserved. In their August list, Baseball America evaluated Báez as the 56th top prospect in the sport, describing him as one of the most elite power-hitting talents currently in the minor league system.

“He plays with a distinct edge,” Marmol commented regarding Báez on Friday (as reported by MLB.com). “He carries himself with real confidence, and his dedication to work is incredibly inspiring to observe. He understands how to compete at the highest level. His desire to win is infectious, and bringing that mentality into our locker room is wonderful because it matches the attitude of many of our other players.”

Saturday marks a critical milestone for major league rookies. With only 44 days left in the regular season, any player promoted on Saturday (or thereafter) will fall short of the 45-day active service time threshold required to lose their rookie eligibility. Consequently, Báez will retain his eligibility for the Rookie of the Year award next season, which offers St. Louis the opportunity to earn an extra draft choice through the Prospect Promotion Incentive.

The 23-year-old Báez was originally selected in the second round (54th overall pick) during the 2021 draft. He combined for 22 home runs between 2022 and 2024, followed by a breakout 20-homer campaign split between High-A and Double-A in 2025, before his massive 36-homer output in Triple-A during 2026. Notably, he recorded a four-homer game in Triple-A on June 16.

With Saturday’s victory, the Cardinals boosted their season record to 62-61, keeping them three games out of the final wild card berth. Meanwhile, the Cubs maintain their hold on the premier wild card position with a 72-52 record.