Joshua Baez might have made the best first impression in major league history on Saturday.
Baez became the first player ever to hit three homers in his big league debut, as he helped the St. Louis Cardinals record an 8-4 victory over the host Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
“It’s just unreal,” Baez said after delivering five RBIs. “To not only get a hit, but three home runs? It’s crazy.”
Baez, 23, came up with one on in the opening inning and hit the first pitch he saw from Matthew Boyd 449 feet to center for his first homer.
He led off the fourth by belting a full-count changeup from Boyd over the wall in left to give St. Louis a 4-3 lead.
In the sixth, Boyd again couldn’t solve the rookie as Baez sent a 1-0 slider over the wall in right for a two-run shot to make it 6-3.
“I was just really glad that the ball went over the wall,” Baez said. “I had no idea. So I just started running, and then I seen that it went over and I was like, ‘This is insane.'”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell was amazed at what he was witnessing.
“He hit three different pitches for home runs. He had a great game,” Counsell said. “He beat us for sure.”
Baez is St. Louis’ No. 3 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He was recalled from Triple-A Memphis after drilling 34 homers in 103 games. He was batting .256 with 90 RBIs and 21 steals.
The Cardinals optioned third baseman Cesar Prieto to Memphis in a corresponding move. He was just 1-for-31 in 12 games with St. Louis.
