Joshua Báez makes history with three homers in first three at-bats

Joshua Báez, a 23-year-old outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, made Major League Baseball history on Saturday by becoming the first player ever to hit a home run in each of his first three career at-bats. Called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier that day, Báez started his debut at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs with a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw, a 93-mph fastball from Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, sending it 450 feet to center field. He followed with a solo shot in the fourth inning on a full-count changeup, and then a two-run homer in the sixth on a slider, driving in five runs total. His historic performance helped the Cardinals secure an 8-4 victory, snapping a losing streak and boosting their playoff hopes as they chase a wild-card spot. Báez, who led Triple-A with 34 home runs in 103 games, became the second player in MLB history to hit his first three career homers in the same game, joining Seby Zavala. The Cardinals, who were 61-61 entering the game, had called up Báez to provide a spark, and he delivered in spectacular fashion, homering to all three fields on three different pitch types. His fourth at-bat ended in a lineout, but the damage was done. The Cubs, who had won nine of their previous eleven games, saw their starter Boyd struggle, allowing seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy earned the win, allowing three unearned runs over six innings. Báez's debut was a dream come true, especially given the emotional backstory of fulfilling a promise to his late father, who never got to play in the majors. The Cardinals' manager, Oliver Marmol, had praised Báez's confidence and work ethic, and the young outfielder certainly lived up to the hype, injecting new life into the team's playoff push.