Cardinals’ Baez joins elite MLB history with debut double

St Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Joshua Baez has entered Major League Baseball history after hitting two home runs in his debut against the Chicago Cubs. The St Louis club called up Baez during their weekend series with the Cubs, and his performance marked an immediate impact on the roster.

In his first at-bat, Baez connected on the very first pitch he saw in the big leagues, launching a home run that travelled nearly 450 feet. He repeated the feat in his second at-bat, becoming the ninth player in MLB history to hit two home runs in a regular-season debut.

MLB researcher Sarah Langs confirmed the statistical rarity of the achievement. Baez joins a select group of players who have accomplished this feat, including Chase DeLauter, who achieved the milestone in March 2026 while playing for the Cleveland Guardians.

The other eight players to hit two home runs in a debut game are Trevor Story (2016), J.P. Arencibia (2010), Mark Quinn (1999), Bert Campaneris (1964), Bob Nieman (1951), and Charlie Reilly (1889). No player has achieved this since Arencibia in 2010, until Baez’s performance on Saturday.

Baez arrived in the majors with significant power numbers from the minor leagues, having hit 35 home runs this season prior to his call-up. His debut adds another power-hitting piece to a Cardinals core that already includes players such as JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, and Jordan Walker.