Joshua Báez delivered a major league debut that surpassed even the most ambitious expectations, etching his name into the history books on Saturday, Aug. 15. The 21-year-old St. Louis Cardinals prospect became the first player in MLB history to hit three home runs in his first three major league at-bats, powering his team to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The historic sequence began on the very first pitch Báez saw from Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd. He launched a 449-foot blast to dead center field, a moment that sent the visiting dugout into a frenzy and delighted the more than two dozen family members who had traveled from across the United States and the Dominican Republic to witness the debut. It was the start of a dominant power display that would define the afternoon.
In his second trip to the plate during the fourth inning, Báez faced a full count against Boyd. The Cubs pitcher, hoping to avoid the fastball, opted for a changeup, but Báez connected for a 382-foot home run that landed in the third row of the left-field bleachers. The third act of his historic performance came during his third at-bat. With Boyd still on the mound, Báez drove a slider to right field for a two-run shot, pushing the Cardinals to a 6-3 lead. The sight of the third home run left teammates in disbelief, with Cardinals designated hitter Ivan Herrera clutching his head in a reaction that mirrored the famous emotional response of Thomas Hill during the 1992 Duke-Christian Laettner moment.
Báez, who entered the game as the Cardinals' No. 3 prospect, has been on a rapid ascent through the organization. A 2021 third-round pick out of the Dexter School in Brookline, Massachusetts, his professional journey has been marked by both immense talent and personal tragedy. Midway through his second full season at Class A Palm Beach, he lost his father, Jose Manuel, who had been a central figure in his baseball development.
The young outfielder has consistently honored his father's memory while climbing the prospect charts, rising to No. 56 in Baseball America's top 100 ratings this summer. On June 16, the third anniversary of his father's passing, Báez hit four home runs for Class AAA Memphis, pointing to the sky after each trip around the bases. He noted at the time that he was simply trying to push through the day, calling the four-homer performance an insane achievement. That effort was part of a massive 2026 campaign in which he recorded 34 home runs and 90 RBIs for Memphis, building on a 20-homer breakout season in 2025. Now, after forcing his way into the big leagues, Báez has arrived on the highest stage in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
Báez Bombs are here, St. Louis! 💣 pic.twitter.com/TENioKu6gr
