Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez absolutely torched the record books on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field, becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to go deep in his first three career plate appearances. This 23-year-old slugger isn’t just making a splash, he’s rewriting the freaking rulebook on how to debut in the big leagues. It was truly a Day 1 beyond anyone’s wildest dreams for St. Louis’ newest power hitter.
A Debut That Belongs in a Highlight Reel Forever
Baez kicked things off with a bang. He stepped to the plate for his very first MLB at-bat and pulverized an 0-0 pitch an insane 449 feet over the batter’s eye in dead center. You should have seen the Cardinals’ dugout! Players were banging on the railing like madmen, coaches stood there shellshocked, mouths hanging open. Baez couldn’t stop smiling as he rounded the bases. This dude’s calling card is light-tower power, and he showed it immediately. But wait, there’s more. Baez went yard again in his second trip to the dish. Savvy veteran Matthew Boyd tried to sneak a full-count changeup past him, but Baez turned it into a souvenir, pulling that offering down the left-field line, over the ivy, and into the seats. You’d think he’d be done, right? Nope. With a runner on first in the top of the sixth, Baez got the better of Boyd once more, poking an outer-half slider into the front row in right. Three at-bats. Three homers. All to different parts of the yard. Seriously, how do you even comprehend that?
From Boston Ball Fields to Big League Bombs
This historic debut wasn’t just some fluke. The Cardinals’ 8-4 victory was an experience of a lifetime for Baez, and a perfect introduction to the big league fans who might be watching him turn hangers into bangers for the next decade. Baez was born in Boston, his family moving back to their native Dominican Republic when he was an infant before returning to Massachusetts just over a decade later, settling in Dorchester, a neighborhood located about five miles south of Fenway Park. He started dominating local little leagues right away, winning a state home run derby for his age group at just 12. Baez then joined a grassroots youth sports organization called the Boston Blue Jays, setting that circuit ablaze too, even playing 19U ball as a 13-year-old. His skills were loud, but his unstoppable desire to be great also caught the attention of scouts and coaches. His former travel ball coach Jamill Moquete, a former minor leaguer himself, shared back in 2021, “He has dedicated blood, sweat and tears to this. He literally does not take a day off. Joshua’s mentality is on another level.”
This is a kid who overcame the challenges of cold-weather urban areas, where frigid winters and rainy springs limit outdoor playing time, and quality field space is scarce. City kids like Baez, those who can’t always afford high-level training facilities or indoor batting cages or the expensive travel ball circuits, often have a tougher development curve. But Baez broke through. Now, Cardinals fans are looking at a player whose journey is as incredible as his power. What’s next for Baez? You know everyone will be tuning in to see if he can keep this absolute monster start going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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