Cardinals set to call up top prospect Joshua Báez before Saturday game

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol told reporters on Friday that the club plans to promote 23-year-old outfielder Joshua Báez from Triple-A Memphis before Saturday’s contest with the Chicago Cubs. Báez, who has hit 31 home runs and driven in 77 runs this season while posting a .244 batting average and an .883 OPS at the Triple-A level, remains a top prospect in the organization.

The promotion follows the recent trade of left fielder Lars Nootbaar to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Nootbaar’s place, the Cardinals have been using Bryan Torres in left field, while infielder Prieto, who is batting .307 with 12 home runs in 71 Triple-A games, is also expected to receive playing time.

Cardinals officials indicated that Báez could be added to the major-league roster after August 14, preserving his rookie eligibility for the 2027 season. The team believes his power-speed profile could provide depth as the season progresses, though they noted that he continues to work on swing decisions and strikeout rates.

“We’re excited about the potential impact Joshua can have when he joins the big-league club,” Marmol said.

The organization will monitor Báez’s performance in the coming weeks before finalizing his role on the roster.