Joshua Báez entered the Major Leagues on Saturday with a performance for the history books, hitting three home runs in his first three at-bats. The 23-year-old left fielder powered the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.
The historic three-homer debut of Joshua Báez
In a display of raw power that stunned the crowd at Wrigley Field, Joshua Báez became the first player in the history of the major leagues to hit three home runs in his first three career at-bats. According to the report, the left fielder was called up from Triple-A Memphis on the very day of the game, transitioning from the minors to a record-breaking MLB performance in a matter of hours.
Báez did not waste a single opportunity, driving in five runs during the contest.. His aggressive approach was evident from the start, as he launched the first pitch he saw deep into the bleachers, setting a tone of dominance that would persist throughout the afternoon.
Matthew Boyd’s seven-run outing at Wrigley Field
The brunt of the rookie's power was felt by Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd, who surrendered all three of Joshua Báez's home runs. As the report says, Boyd struggled throughout his 5 1/3 innings of work, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks while striking out only two batters.
The sequence of home runs showased Báez's ability to hit to all fields. He began with a two-run shot to the left-center field bleachers in the first inning, followed by a full-count blast down the left-field line in the fourth, and concluded with a two-run homer to the opposite side of the field in the sixth inning.
A rare St. Louis feat not seen since Lane Thomas in 2019
While the three-homer game is an all-time record, the act of homering in a first career plate appearance is a rarity even for the St. Louis Cardinals. Joshua Báez is the first player in the Cardinals organization to achieve this since Lane Thomas did so in June 2019, marking a significant moment for the franchise's talent pipeline.
The victory was a collective effort for the St. Louis Cardinals, who also benefited from solo home runs by Blaze Jordan and Alec Burleson. Additionally, pitcher Michael McGreevy earned the win, marking his first victory since July 8, after allowing three unearned runs over six innings of work.
Edward Cabrera’s return from a June 23 hamstring strain
The focus now shifts to the series finale on Sunday, where the St. Louis Cardinals will start Hunter Dobbins against the Chicago Cubs' Edward Cabrera. This matchup is particularly noteworthy because Cabrera is making his first start since June 23, following a recovery period for a left hamstring strain.
However, several questions remain regarding the sustainability of this momentum. It is currently unknown if Joshua Báez's historic output was a product of a specific mismatch with Matthew Boyd or if he can maintain this level of production against a fresh arm like Edward Cabrera.. Furthermore, the report does not specify if the St. Louis Cardinals intend to keep Báez in the starting lineup permanently or if he will rotate as the team manages his first full exposure to major league pitching.
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