How Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez made MLB history with 3 home runs in debut vs. Cubs

How Cardinals outfielder Joshua Baez made MLB history with 3 home runs in debut vs. Cubs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals appear to have found themselves another premier slugger.

While Alec Burleson, Ivan Herrera, JJ Wetherholt and reigning Home Run Derby champion Jordan Walker all have at least 13 home runs so far this season, on Saturday, a new face in the clubhouse made a historic arrival: Joshua Baez.

The 2021 second-round pick, making his MLB debut against the Cubs in Saturday's matchup, hit three home runs, standing alone in history for total homers in a player's first regular-season game.

Here's a look at Baez's historic performance in Cardinals vs. Cubs and more to know about the young slugger.

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Joshua Baez home runs vs. Cubs

On Friday, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol announced that Baez was joining the big-league club for the first time. With impressive offensive numbers in Triple-A this season, he was set to provide an immediate boost for a St. Louis lineup contending for an NL Wild Card spot — but just how big that boost was shocked everybody.

In the top of the first inning at Wrigley Field, Matthew Boyd threw Baez the first pitch of his MLB career. He blasted it. 

With a projected distance of 449 feet into center, Baez gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead, smiling as he rounded the bases for his first MLB home run on his first pitch.

JOSHUA BÁEZ!

The @Cardinals prospect homers on the first Major League pitch he sees! pic.twitter.com/iczpVNQYEt

— MLB (@MLB) August 15, 2026

Baez came up again in the fourth inning, with Boyd still in the game. On a 3-2 pitch, he did it again.

This time, Boyd sent one deep into left field, rounding the bases to break a 3-3 tie with his solo home run. 

JOSHUA BÁEZ, ARE YOU KIDDING?!

2 at-bats, 2 HOMERS in his MLB debut! pic.twitter.com/E5XgRR76MO

— MLB (@MLB) August 15, 2026

Somehow, the rookie was not done. Already owning one of the most impressive debuts in baseball history, Baez made it even more historic in the sixth inning.

His third home run of the day was the shortest, sneaking over the wall in right field — meaning he'd hit a homer to left, center and right field in his MLB debut, the first player to ever hit three home runs in their debut.

And Baez did it in his first three at-bats.

Joshua Báez
Joshua Báez!
JOSHUA BÁEZ!!!

The @Cardinals rookie has homered THREE TIMES in his MLB debut 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4FTBDw4dZx

— MLB (@MLB) August 15, 2026

It was an unreal start to the outfielder's big-league career — and it's likely safe to say he'll be sticking around with the Cardinals for some time.

HIGHEST CAREER OPS IN MLB HISTORY
(minimum 3 plate appearances):

Joshua Báez, 5.000 🔥🔥🔥
Estaban Yan, 3.500
Bill Irwin, 2.667
8 other guys with 2.000 pic.twitter.com/OFTwOCgWn4

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 15, 2026

Joshua Baez stats vs. Cubs

• Hits-At Bats: 3-4
• Runs: 3
• HRs: 3
• RBIs: 5
• BB: 0
• SO: 0

Baez's first three at-bats, all home runs, resulted in a five-RBI debut. In his fourth at-bat, he lined out to left field.

Per Sarah Langs, Baez was the second player to hit each of his first three MLB home runs in the same game, joining Seby Zavala in 2021. However, that marked Zavala's 18th MLB game, while Baez was making his debut.

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Most home runs in an MLB debut

Baez became just the ninth player to hit two home runs in their first MLB regular season game, according to Sarah Langs. But he now stands alone as the only player to hit three long balls in their debut.

Notably, two other MLB rookies also had multi-home run debuts this season. Jose Fernandez hit two homers in his Diamondbacks debut in March, while Chase DeLauter did the same for the Guardians.

Here's a look at the most home runs in an MLB debut:

Joshua Baez Cardinals prospect ranking

MLB.com has Baez pinned as the Cardinals' No. 3 prospect, trailing pitcher Liam Doyle and catcher/first baseman Rainiel Rodriguez.

Evidently, Baez's power is the tool that's made him a top-tier young talent. MLB.com graded his power tool at a 60, writing that "his raw power remains plus-plus, and he could challenge for 30-plus homers" in the majors. He also boasts plenty of speed on the basepaths, playing center field in the minor leagues.

Joshua Baez minor league stats

Baez earned his Cardinals call-up for mashing in Triple-A throughout the 2026 season so far.

His 34 home runs led all minor-league players before being promoted to the big leagues, seven more than Hector Rodriguez's in the Reds organization. Baez also had 21 stolen bases so far in 2026, though his 136 strikeouts also ranked among the minor-league leaders.

Here's a look at Baez's Triple-A numbers in 2026 before joining the Cardinals:

Is Joshua Baez related to Javier Baez?

While they share a last name, Joshua Baez is not related to Tigers infielder Javier Baez, one of MLB's most well-known utility players over the past decade.

How old is Joshua Baez?

Baez is 23 years old. He will turn 24 on June 28, 2027.