Cardinals rookie Joshua Báez becomes first player to hit three home runs in MLB debut, beats Cubs 8-4

A debut like no other

Joshua Báez, a 23-year-old outfielder called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day, became the first player in major league history to hit three home runs in his first three at-bats, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday. A crowd of 39,834 witnessed the performance. Báez finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs, tagging Cubs starter Matthew Boyd for all three homers.

The first came on the very first pitch Báez saw in the majors, a 93.4 mph fastball from Boyd that landed an estimated 449 feet into the left-center field bleachers for a two-run shot in the opening inning. He led off the fourth by driving a full-count changeup down the left-field line for a solo homer to give St. Louis a 4-3 lead. In the sixth, he sent a 1-0 slider over the wall in right for another two-run homer, making it 6-3.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the rookie's dominance after the game.

He hit three different pitches for home runs. He had a great game. He beat us for sure.

Honoring his father

Báez's debut carried deep personal meaning. His father, Jose Manuel Báez, nicknamed "El Bronco," died in 2023. More than 30 family members, including his mother Yris, attended the game at Wrigley Field and gathered on the field for photos afterward in the rain. Yris said through an interpreter that she cried with her son, remembering his promise to make it to the majors in memory of his late father.

Báez said he noticed a bee that stayed with him in the outfield throughout the game, which he interpreted as his father's presence.

I had a bee that was with me every single inning in the outfield. I found it strange. At first, I was a bit scared, but then I kind of let it go and I knew that it wasn't going to sting me. I kind of took that as if he was the bee, because it was right on me every single inning.

I just know that he's super proud, and that he's here with me right now in spirit.

Báez had marked the anniversary of his father's death this season by hitting four home runs in a June 16 game with Triple-A Memphis.

Road to the majors

The Cardinals selected Báez in the second round of the 2021 draft out of Dexter Southfield, a prep school in the Boston area, and awarded him a $2.25 million signing bonus. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound slugger needed parts of five seasons in the low-to-mid minors before reaching Triple-A this year.

At Memphis, Báez was leading all Triple-A hitters with 34 home runs through 103 games, batting.256 with 90 RBIs, 21 steals, and 136 strikeouts. MLB Pipeline ranked him as St. Louis' No. 3 prospect. He was the ninth player to make his major league debut for the Cardinals this season. In a corresponding move, St. Louis optioned third baseman Cesar Prieto, who was 1-for-31 in 12 games, to Memphis.

Game details and what's next

Michael McGreevy (5-9) earned his first win since July 8, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings. Boyd (8-2) took the loss, surrendering seven runs on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. Blaze Jordan and Alec Burleson added solo home runs for St. Louis, while Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer for the Cubs, who had won nine of their previous 11 games.

The series concludes Sunday afternoon with Cardinals right-hander Hunter Dobbins (2-3, 3.40 ERA) facing Edward Cabrera (5-4, 5.10 ERA), who will make his first start since June 23 after recovering from a left hamstring strain.