Cardinals' Joshua Baez just did something never done before in MLB history with 3-HR debut originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The St. Louis Cardinals called up 23-year-old outfield prospect Joshua Baez for their weekend games against the Chicago Cubs.
In his first at-bat, Baez hit a mammoth homer straight away to center field that went nearly 450 feet. His next at-bat was a pulled fly ball to left that got over the wall, and it had him joining eight other players to homer twice in their MLB debuts.
Then, Baez did something not once seen in the very long story of MLB history. He hit a third HR in his MLB debut. Joshua Baez hit three home runs in his MLB debut, which, as Sarah Langs noted, made MLB history never once done before in MLB history.
Joshua Baez makes MLB history never seen before with 3-HR debut
"JOSHUA BAEZ IS THE FIRST PLAYER IN MLB HISTORY WITH 3 HOME RUNS IN HIS MLB DEBUT!!!!" Lanhs shared on Twitter/X.
The caps-lock is warranted for this feat, as not once in the long history of Major League Baseball has a player ever hit three home runs in their debut. But that's no longer the case, as Baez just accomplished that feat, homering three times in his MLB debut.
Joshua Báez
— MLB (@MLB) August 15, 2026
Joshua Báez!
JOSHUA BÁEZ!!!
The @Cardinals rookie has homered THREE TIMES in his MLB debut 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4FTBDw4dZx
Eight others have hit two homers, including Chase DeLauter for the Cleveland Guardians earlier this year, and as long ago as Charlie Reilly back in 1889.
But for the first time in Major League Baseball history, a rookie has hit three home runs in their MLB debut.
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Baez's third blast of the game was a shot to right field, and an opposite-field homer, rounding out an incredible debut chock-full of home runs.
While players are relying on power more often in today's game, this feat from Baez might never be matched again. Three home runs in a debut is just that hard to accomplish.
This is a one-of-a-kind debut for Baez, and deserves all of the praise he'll receive from now until the end of time, or until someone else accomplishes this feat.
But, considering this is the only time a hitter has ever hit three homers in their debut, not to mention on their first three at-bats of an MLB career, this piece of MLB history might never meet its match.
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