St. Louis Cardinals rookie Joshua Báez had a stellar start to his Major League Baseball career. On his debut, Báez smashed a home run in each of his first three appearances against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This achievement marked a significant milestone in baseball history.
Báez, only 23 years old, wasted no time in making an impact. In his first at-bat, he sent the first pitch soaring 450 feet to dead center, securing a two-run homer and giving the Cardinals an initial 3-0 lead. This spectacular hit came off a 93-mph fastball delivered by Cubs starter Matt Boyd.
The Cardinals’ dugout erupted with excitement as Báez rounded the bases, smiling all the way.
His talent didn’t stop there. In the fourth inning, Báez faced Boyd again and worked the count full, eventually hitting a 78-mph changeup over left field for another home run, regaining the Cardinals’ lead at 4-3. His third home run featured an 83-mph slider to right field, extending the Cardinals’ lead to 6-3.
The young right-handed batter displayed remarkable skill by homering to all three fields. Each home run came from a different pitch type: fastball, changeup, and slider. Báez’s fourth at-bat ended differently; he lined out to Cubs left fielder Ian Happ, grounding the high of his initial performance.
Leading up to his MLB debut, Báez showcased his power in Triple-A. Before his call-up, he held a batting average of .256, with 34 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 103 games. Drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft, the Boston native brings dynamism to a hopeful roster that includes talents like JJ Wetherholt, Jordan Walker, and Alec Burleson.
The Cardinals went into Saturday’s game with a balanced 61-61 record, trailing 3.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies for the final National League Wild Card spot. Unexpectedly, the Cardinals have shown potential this season, standing just behind the league’s top contenders.
The Cubs, meanwhile, remain at the top of the Wild Card standings, closely pursuing the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.