Joshua Baez didn’t just have a debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, he absolutely detonated on the Chicago Cubs, blasting three home runs in his very first MLB game. This rookie went from being called up from AAA to instantly becoming a legend, and the entire league just got put on notice.
Rookie Sensation Delivers Instant Power
This wasn’t some cheap shot either. On his first MLB at-bat, seeing the very first pitch thrown to him in the big leagues from Matthew Boyd, Baez absolutely obliterated it. We’re talking 449 feet, straight to dead center field, a two-run bomb that put the Cards up 3-0 right out of the gate. Talk about making a statement, right? But he wasn’t done. On his second trip to the plate, Baez showed off his versatility, pulling a 389-foot solo shot to left field that restored the Cardinals’ lead at 4-3. Just when you thought you’d seen it all, Baez stepped up in the top of the sixth inning and completed the trifecta. He went opposite field this time, sending a 368-foot, two-run blast to right field, bringing Alec Burleson home for the second time. The Cardinals went on to rout their NL Central rivals, the Cubs, 8-4. Jordan Walker, the Home Run Derby king, even followed Baez with a homer of his own, and Burleson added a solo shot, making it five long balls for St. Louis in a single game.
The Future Is Here, And He’s Mashing
This performance wasn’t just a fluke. The Cardinals have been developing Baez since drafting him 54th overall in 2021, and they just got all the confirmation they needed. In AAA this year, across 410 at-bats, Baez was hitting .256 with a monster 34 home runs and 90 RBIs. He earned his recognition as St. Louis’ third-ranked minor league prospect, and when he got his chance, he absolutely made the most of it. Baez also just joined an exclusive club of rookies who went deep immediately upon hitting the majors. We’re talking about guys like Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Jose Fernandez, who hit two dingers in his MLB debut back on March 31, getting called up after Pavin Smith hit the injured list. Fernandez’s early season heroics kept him in the majors until the beginning of June. Chicago White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery also made noise, hitting a two-run walk-off shot to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5 in his debut. And let’s not forget Cleveland Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter, who also slugged two home runs in his first regular-season game after joining the team during the 2025 American League Wild Card series and making the 2026 roster.
Baez has officially arrived, and he’s bringing the thunder. He’s proven he belongs, and every pitcher in the league just got put on notice. What’s he gonna do next? We’re all gonna be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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