Historic Debut: Joshua Báez Becomes First MLB Player to Hit 3 Homers in First Game

Joshua Báez produced one of the most remarkable debuts in Major League Baseball history on Saturday, becoming the first player ever to hit three home runs in his first three at-bats.

The 23-year-old St. Louis Cardinals outfielder achieved the feat during an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, announcing himself on the biggest stage in spectacular fashion.

Báez needed just one pitch to open his major-league account. He sent the first pitch he saw from Cubs starter Matthew Boyd deep into the stands for a 449-foot home run.

He returned to the plate in the fourth inning and homered again before completing the extraordinary performance with another home run in the sixth. His three blasts came to different parts of the field and accounted for five of St. Louis’ runs.

The achievement was unprecedented. No player before Báez had hit three home runs in a major-league debut, making his first appearance one of the most memorable individual performances in MLB history.

Báez had been called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day. Before his promotion, he had already been enjoying a productive season, hitting 34 home runs with 90 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 103 games. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the Cardinals’ No. 3 prospect.

His historic display helped the Cardinals secure an important road victory over the Cubs, while also giving St. Louis fans a glimpse of what the highly rated prospect could bring to the major-league lineup.

The performance also came with his family watching from the stands. Báez later reflected on the emotional significance of the occasion, with a bee that repeatedly appeared around him in the outfield adding an unexpected personal touch to an already unforgettable afternoon.

For a player who had spent five years working toward his first major-league at-bat, Báez could hardly have scripted a more spectacular introduction.