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Joshua Baez Makes MLB History in His Debut
- Bryce Kamin
- 20 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Fox Sports
The 23-year-old Cardinals outfielder was called up from Triple-A Memphis and started in left field against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, August 15. Baez is the Cardinals' No. 3-ranked prospect.
St. Louis selected Baez in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Coming into his call-up, he was leading all of the minor leagues with 36 home runs, all of which came at Triple-A. He even had a four-home-run game back in June.
Then, Baez shocked the baseball world.
The 23-year-old did what was thought to be impossible, setting an MLB record by hitting three home runs in his first three plate appearances of his major league career.
According to MLB, Baez became the first player in modern baseball history, dating back to 1901, to hit three home runs in his MLB debut. The league cannot say for certain whether it happened before 1901 because of incomplete records.
Baez Makes History at Wrigley Field
Baez became just the third player ever to homer in each of his first two MLB at-bats. He then added a third home run, becoming the only player in MLB history to accomplish the feat three-for-three.
The home runs themselves were a tour of Wrigley Field.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Baez launched a 449-foot shot to dead center on the very first pitch he saw in the major leagues. In his second at-bat, he pulled a 389-foot home run to left field. He then completed the historic performance with a 368-foot opposite-field blast to right in the sixth inning.
His three home runs traveled a combined 1,026 feet.
Even more impressively, all three came against Cubs starter Matthew Boyd. Baez finished the day 3-for-4 with five RBIs as the Cardinals defeated their biggest rival, the Chicago Cubs, 8-4. Many of his family members were also in attendance at Wrigley Field to witness the historic debut.
A Debut Filled With MLB History
Funny enough, Baez became the first Cardinals player to homer in his first major league at-bat since pitcher Adam Wainwright in 2006.
Yes, that's right—a pitcher.
Baez also joined an exclusive group of players who have hit at least three home runs in a single game. According to MLB records, only 345 players have hit three or more home runs in one game. Baez can now be added to that list, bringing the total to 346.
The last rookie to hit three or more home runs in a game was Nick Kurtz, who became the first rookie in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. Kurtz also matched the MLB record for total bases with 19 against the Astros on July 25, 2025.
Baez is now the ninth player in the Modern Era to hit multiple home runs in his regular-season MLB debut.
He's also the third player to accomplish the feat this season, joining Jose Fernandez and Chase DeLauter. DeLauter hit two home runs in his first postseason game in 2025 before making his regular-season debut on March 26, 2026, when he homered twice again.
Baez Gives Cardinals' Future Another Boost
It's no surprise that the Cardinals like Baez as much as they do.
St. Louis has spent the last few seasons stuck in baseball purgatory, but the organization now has a chance to build a brighter and clearer future around its young core.
Baez adds another intriguing piece to the mix alongside J.J. Weatherholt, Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, Blaze Jordan, Alec Burleson, and Masyn Winn.
Of course, one historic game doesn't guarantee a long and successful MLB career. Baez still has plenty to prove as he adjusts to major league pitching. But it's difficult to imagine a better way to introduce yourself to the majors.
The Cardinals continue to fight for a Wild Card spot, sitting in third place in the NL Central at 62-61. With Baez now in the mix, St. Louis has another young player who could become an important part of its future and should have Cardinals fans excited for years to come.
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