A debut without precedent
Cardinals outfielder Joshua Báez became the first player in modern MLB history to hit a home run in each of his first three major-league at-bats, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs in St. Louis's 8-4 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The feat has not been matched since 1901, although Major League Baseball noted it could not confirm whether the accomplishment had occurred before that date because game logs from earlier eras are incomplete. Báez, 23, was recalled from Triple-A Memphis before the game and was the ninth player to make his major-league debut for St. Louis during the 2026 season.
How the at-bats unfolded
Báez opened his career by crushing the first pitch he saw from Cubs starter Matthew Boyd an estimated 449 feet into the left-center bleachers. His second home run, a solo shot, went down the left-field line, and the third traveled to the opposite field. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said he could not help but stop and watch Báez round the bases. "There was a calmness and a smile, like, 'I'm here,'" Marmol said. "It's rare for me to pick my head up to enjoy parts of it." Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the damage Báez inflicted, noting that the rookie squared up three different pitches for home runs.
A family moment at Wrigley
Roughly 30 relatives made the trip to Wrigley Field to see Báez's debut, including his mother, Yris, and they gathered on the field for photographs after the game despite lingering rain. Báez framed the day around a promise he had made to his late father, José Manuel Báez, nicknamed "El Bronco," who had once dreamed of playing professional baseball himself but never signed. Joshua told reporters he had promised his father he would reach the majors for him. During the game, Báez noticed a bee that kept returning to him in left field and chose to interpret the insect as a sign his father was present.
The minor-league pedigree behind the power
Báez entered the majors leading all Triple-A hitters with 34 home runs and had recorded four multi-homer games at that level during the 2026 season. According to MLB.com, he became the 11th St. Louis player to homer in his first career at-bat, following Lane Thomas in 2019, and the sixth in franchise history to homer on the first pitch of his career, a list that includes former pitcher Adam Wainwright in 2006.
Where the record stands
MLB's official assessment described Báez as the first player in modern baseball history to hit three home runs in his debut, with the league declining to make a definitive claim about whether the feat occurred in the 19th century. Báez was unfazed by the historic framing, telling reporters that homering three times felt "crazy" and "unreal" compared with simply registering a first major-league hit.
Share this article
