Joshua Báez, a rookie for the St. Louis Cardinals, had a debut performance on Saturday that seemed like something straight out of a film. In his very first Major League Baseball game, he made headlines by hitting a home run on each of his initial three at-bats during a match against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Báez wasted no time, launching a two-run homer 450 feet to center field on the very first pitch he faced. This set the tone for the match, giving the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead. The 23-year-old crushed a 93 mph fastball from Cubs pitcher Matt Boyd, leaving both the dugout and fans in a state of excitement. He joyfully rounded the bases, clearly enjoying the moment.
The second home run came in the fourth inning off Boyd again. After running the count full, Báez took a 78 mph changeup and sent it 382 feet into left field, pushing the Cardinals ahead 4-3.
His third home run didn’t deviate from the trend, as he hit an 83 mph slider outside the plate, sending the ball 368 feet into right field for another two-run shot, increasing the lead to 6-3. The disbelief among his teammates was palpable, as they watched this remarkable feat unfold.
What’s notable about Báez’s achievement is that he hit home runs to all three fields with three different pitches in these at-bats. It’s impressive, to say the least—he homered on a fastball to center, a changeup to left, and a slider to right. It really showcased his power right from the get-go.
In his fourth at-bat, however, he hit a line drive that was caught by Cubs left fielder Ian Happ, which perhaps reminded fans he is, after all, still a rookie. As the game progressed into the ninth inning, the Cardinals were ahead 8-4.
Báez had previously dominated in Triple-A, leading the league in home runs before his call-up. He batted fifth and played left field in this game. In Triple-A, he had posted a .256 average, with 34 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases over 103 games.
The Cardinals drafted him in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft, hoping he—along with players like JJ Weatherholt, Jordan Walker, and Alec Burleson—can develop into a strong core for the team moving forward.
This season, the Cardinals have somewhat exceeded expectations, entering the game with a record of 61-61 and holding onto the National League’s last wild-card spot, just 3.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, the Cubs lead the wild-card race in the National League, with a three-game advantage over the Milwaukee Brewers in their division.
