Cardinals rookie Joshua Báez hits home runs in his first three MLB at-bats

Joshua Báez made a historic major-league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals, hitting a home run in each of his first three plate appearances against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The rookie’s first swing sent a 450-foot two-run shot to dead center on a fastball from Cubs starter Matt Boyd, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. He followed with a 382-foot homer to left field on a changeup and a 368-foot two-run blast to right field on a slider, both also off Boyd, extending the lead to 6-3.

After a line out to Ian Happ in his fourth at-bat, the Cardinals maintained an 8-4 lead into the ninth inning. Báez, who led Triple-A in home runs before his call-up, joins a young Cardinals core that includes JJ Wetherholt, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson.