History in three swings
St. Louis Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez made MLB history Monday, becoming the first player to hit three home runs in his first three major league at-bats. The 22-year-old outfielder was called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day and wasted no time announcing his arrival.
Baez homered in his first plate appearance, then again in his second. When he connected for a third time, the crowd at Wrigley Field rose to its feet. Players in the opposing dugout, teammates said later, could only watch and shake their heads.
A standing ovation at Wrigley
After the third blast, Baez received a long standing ovation from fans who had come to see a division game and instead witnessed a piece of history. His teammates greeted him at the top of the dugout steps, and the rookie tipped his cap to the crowd.
"I was just trying to put good swings on good pitches," Baez said after the game. "I never imagined it would go like this." The ball from his third home run was retrieved and given to the team for safekeeping.
A fast rise through the minors
Baez was a fourth-round pick in 2022 and has moved quickly through the Cardinals system. He was hitting above .300 with more than 20 home runs at Triple-A Memphis, forcing the club to find room for him on the big league roster.
The performance immediately drew comparisons to some of the most memorable debuts in baseball history. Cardinals manager and coaching staff said the young outfielder would stay in the everyday lineup. "He earned the right to play," one coach said. "Now he has to keep doing it."
The Cardinals have been searching for young hitters to build around, and Baez’s debut gives the organization a new reason for optimism. Fans who stayed until the final out left Wrigley talking about one thing: the rookie who could not stop hitting home runs.