St. Louis Cardinals rookie Joshua Baez achieved an unprecedented feat in his Major League Baseball debut Saturday, hitting a home run in each of his first three at-bats during an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Baez, a 23-year-old prospect called up by the Cardinals on Friday, became the first player in modern MLB history to accomplish this milestone.
Baez's historic debut began with a 450-foot home run on the very first pitch he saw in the majors. He followed this with a solo shot down the left-field line in his second at-bat and a third home run in his subsequent plate appearance, driving in a total of five runs.
Major League Baseball confirmed Baez as the first player to hit three home runs in his debut in the modern era, noting that records prior to 1901 are incomplete. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol commented on Baez's composed demeanor, stating, "There was a calmness and a smile, like, 'I'm here.'" Marmol added that Baez's performance compelled him to pause and appreciate the moment.
Baez had 30 family members in attendance, including his mother, Yris, who joined him on the field for photos after the game despite the rain. "It's just unreal," Baez said. "To not only get a hit, but three home runs? It's crazy."
Prior to his call-up, Baez demonstrated significant power in the minor leagues, leading all Triple-A hitters with 34 home runs this season, including four multi-homer games. He is the ninth player to debut for the Cardinals this year. Baez also joins an elite group of Cardinals players, becoming the 11th to homer in his first career at-bat and the sixth to do so on the first pitch faced, following in the footsteps of former pitcher Adam Wainwright, who last achieved this in 2006.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged Baez's impact on the game, stating, "He hit three different pitches for home runs. He had a great game. He beat us for sure."
