Rookie Joshua Báez hits home runs in first three MLB at-bats for Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals rookie Joshua Báez homered in each of his first three major-league at-bats, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBIs in an 8-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Joshua Báez made his major-league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday and became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run in each of his first three career at-bats. The 23-year-old, the organization’s No. 3 prospect, was promoted from Triple-A Memphis on Friday and started in left field against Chicago Cubs starter Matthew Boyd.
Báez’s first pitch, a 93 mph fastball from Boyd, was taken for a two-run homer that gave St. Louis a 3-0 lead. He followed with a solo home run on a changeup in his second at-bat and added a third, a slider-driven shot to opposite field, in the sixth inning. The rookie finished 3-for-4 with three homers and five runs batted in.
“He hit the first pitch he faced for a home run,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.
The Cardinals held on for an 8-4 victory, while Boyd allowed seven runs over 5 1/3 innings. Báez, a 2021 second-round pick from Dexter Southfield School, had posted a .256/.328/.573 slash line with 34 home runs and 90 RBIs for the Redbirds before his call-up.