Cardinals’ Báez makes MLB history with three-debut home run feat

St Louis Cardinals left fielder Joshua Báez has entered Major League Baseball history, becoming the first player to hit three home runs in his debut. The 23-year-old achieved the unprecedented feat in his first three at-bats against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon, launching a mammoth 449-foot blast on the very first pitch he saw in the major leagues.

Báez’s power display was comprehensive, with the second home run travelling to left field and the third to right field, demonstrating all-fields capability. All three home runs were hit off Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd. It was noted as surprising that Cardinals manager Craig Counsell allowed Boyd to remain in the game for the third at-bat, despite Boyd having surrendered two home runs and approaching 90 pitches in a close contest.

The performance places Báez among an elite group in the Modern Era. He is the eighth player since 1900 to hit multiple home runs in a regular-season debut and the third this season, following Cleveland Guardians’ Chase DeLauter and Arizona Diamondbacks’ Jose Fernandez. Only Bob Nieman and Keith McDonald had previously hit home runs in their first two at-bats, though McDonald’s achievement was split across two games.

Prior to his promotion, Báez led the minor leagues with 36 home runs at the Triple-A level, posting a .256/.328/.573 slash line in 103 games. Baseball America ranked him the 56th-best prospect in baseball in August, citing his status as one of the top power-hitting prospects in the minors. He was selected in the second round (54th overall) of the 2021 draft and has shown consistent power progression, hitting 22 home runs from 2022 to 2024 and 20 between High Class-A and Double-A in 2025.

The timing of Báez’s call-up has significant implications for the Cardinals’ roster construction and future assets. With 44 days remaining in the season, players called up on or after Saturday will not accrue the 45 days of service time required to exhaust rookie status. Consequently, Báez remains eligible for the Rookie of the Year award next season, a distinction that could potentially net the Cardinals a Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick depending on the final voting results.