Joshua Baez entered the MLB record books Saturday, August 15, 2026, delivering an unbelievable performance in his debut for the St. Louis Cardinals. The 2021 second-round pick, stepping up against the Chicago Cubs, blasted three home runs in his very first regular-season game, standing alone in history for total homers in a player’s initial big-league appearance. That’s how you make an entrance!
Welcome to The Show: First Pitch, First Homer
Cardinals manager Oli Marmol had announced Baez’s call-up to the big-league club, hinting that his impressive offensive numbers in Triple-A this season would provide an immediate boost. St. Louis is contending for an NL Wild Card spot, so every bit of help counts. Nobody, though, could have predicted the absolute fireworks Baez put on display at Wrigley Field. In the top of the first inning, Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd threw the rookie the first pitch of his MLB career. Baez absolutely obliterated it, sending it an estimated 449 feet into center field for a three-run shot. He rounded the bases with a grin, having given the Cardinals an instant 3-0 lead. What a way to get started, right?
Historic Power Display: All Fields, All Game
But Baez wasn’t done. Not even close. He came up again in the fourth inning, with Boyd still on the mound. On a 3-2 pitch, he did it again! This time, Baez launched a solo home run deep into left field, breaking a 3-3 tie. Two at-bats, two homers. It was already one of the most incredible debuts ever seen, but Baez saved his most historic moment for the sixth inning. His third home run of the day, a shorter shot that just snuck over the wall in right field, meant he’d hit a homer to left, center, and right field in his debut. He’s the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs in their debut, and he did it in his first three at-bats. This kid’s stats for the day against the Cubs were just wild: 3 hits on 4 at-bats, 3 runs scored, 3 home runs, 5 RBIs, 0 walks, and 0 strikeouts. To put it in perspective, his career OPS currently sits at an unbelievable 5.000, setting a new MLB record for players with a minimum of three plate appearances. It’s an unreal start for the outfielder.
This kind of immediate firepower is exactly what St. Louis needs as they continue their push for an NL Wild Card spot. With other sluggers like Alec Burleson, Ivan Herrera, JJ Wetherholt, and reigning Home Run Derby champ Jordan Walker already having at least 13 homers this season, adding Baez’s bat is a game-changer. It’s safe to say he’ll be sticking around with the Cardinals for a long, long time, and you can bet the entire league is now watching every one of his at-bats.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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