Joshua Báez has made one of the most spectacular entrances imaginable to Major League Baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals outfielder made history on August 15, 2026, by becoming the first player in MLB history to hit a home run in each of his first three big-league plate appearances.
The 23-year-old slugger delivered all three homers against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, helping the Cardinals earn an 8-4 victory.
Who Is Joshua Baez?
Joshua Báez is a right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Born on June 28, 2003, he stands 6-foot-3 and weighs approximately 220 pounds.
Before reaching the majors, Báez established himself as one of the Cardinals’ most intriguing power prospects. MLB Pipeline ranked him No. 3 among Cardinals prospects and No. 59 overall, reflecting the combination of power, athleticism and arm strength that has followed him throughout his development.
His MLB Pipeline scouting grades include a 60 for power and 60 for arm, with an overall grade of 55.
Joshua Baez Cardinals Debut
Báez’s Cardinals debut against the Cubs immediately became historic.
He launched a 449-foot home run on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues, giving St. Louis an early advantage. He then homered again in his second at-bat, hitting a 382-foot shot to left field.
In his third plate appearance, Báez completed the incredible feat with another home run, this one traveling 368 feet to right field.
He finished the game with three home runs and five RBIs as the Cardinals defeated the Cubs 8-4.
The performance made Báez the first player ever to homer in each of his first three MLB plate appearances.
Joshua Baez Stats
Although his MLB career has only just begun, Báez already has an impressive minor-league statistical résumé.
In 2026, he hit 37 home runs across all levels, including 34 at Triple-A and three in the majors. That total was tied for the most in baseball at the time with Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber.
His minor-league power has been one of his defining characteristics, but his speed is also noteworthy. Báez has stolen 149 bases in 452 minor-league games.
In 2025, he became just the 17th player in nearly 75 years to record a 20-home-run, 50-steal season in the minor leagues.
Joshua Baez Draft History
The Cardinals selected Joshua Báez in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft with the 54th overall pick.
He entered the draft after an impressive high school career at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, Massachusetts. Báez was ranked No. 24 among draft prospects and was considered one of the most intriguing power bats in his class.
The selection gave the Cardinals a prospect with significant offensive upside and a powerful throwing arm.
Joshua Baez High School and College
One common search surrounding the young Cardinals star is Joshua Baez college. Báez did not play college baseball before entering professional baseball.
He was drafted directly out of Dexter Southfield High School in Massachusetts in 2021.
Dexter Southfield was not traditionally known as a major baseball pipeline. Báez was only the school’s second MLB Draft pick, following Johnny Magliozzi, who was selected by the New York Mets in the 17th round in 2013.
The school also has a famous former student in another field: former U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
Joshua Baez Family
Family has played an important role in Báez’s baseball journey.
His father, Jose Manuel Báez, played baseball and softball and dreamed of reaching the major leagues. He died on June 16, 2023.
Báez has spoken emotionally about fulfilling the dream his father could not achieve. Three years after his father’s death, Báez produced another unforgettable baseball moment by hitting four home runs in a minor-league game.
That performance came on June 16, 2026, exactly three years after his father’s passing.
His MLB debut added another powerful chapter to that family story, with Báez dedicating his achievement to his father’s memory.
Joshua Baez Brother
Interest in Joshua Baez brother has increased following his historic debut. Báez’s family background has been an important part of his story, particularly because of his father’s influence on his baseball ambitions.
However, publicly available coverage surrounding his professional career has focused much more heavily on his father, development and baseball journey than on a prominent professional baseball career involving a brother.
For that reason, claims about a brother’s professional baseball status should be treated carefully unless confirmed by Báez or an official source.
Joshua Baez From Dominican Republic to Boston
Báez’s path to professional baseball began across two cultures.
He was born in Boston, but his family moved back to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic when he was an infant. The family eventually returned to Boston when Báez was 11.
After returning to the United States, Báez taught himself English and became an honor student at Dexter Southfield.
His ability to adapt academically and socially was another reflection of the work ethic that later became a major part of his baseball development.
Joshua Baez’s Work Ethic
Báez’s physical development has been remarkable.
He was introduced to the Next Level baseball program in Boston at 13 and played on its 19-and-under team. At the time, he weighed around 160 pounds.
By the time he signed with the Cardinals in 2021, he was approximately 230 pounds.
His development in the gym helped transform him into one of the more physically imposing young hitters in the Cardinals system.
Joshua Baez Power
Power is arguably Báez’s biggest tool.
At just 17 years old, he hit a ball over the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cup positioned on top of the scoreboard at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford, an area the ballpark owners said had never previously been reached.
His raw power was among the best in his draft class, and MLB Pipeline gave him a 60 power grade.
His 473-foot grand slam in the minors in 2026 further demonstrated just how much force he can generate.
His three-homer MLB debut against the Cubs showed that his power can translate against major-league pitching.
Joshua Baez Arm and Speed
Báez was a two-way player during high school and reportedly generated fastballs reaching 98 mph when he pitched.
That background helped him develop one of the strongest arms among his draft peers. MLB Pipeline gives him a 60 arm grade.
Despite receiving a 50 run grade, Báez has also demonstrated legitimate speed on the bases. His 149 minor-league steals show that he is more than just a power hitter.
That combination of power, arm strength and speed gives the Cardinals an intriguing all-around outfield prospect.
Joshua Baez Trade Rumors
There has been growing interest in Joshua Baez trade possibilities because highly rated young players can become valuable pieces in MLB trade discussions.
However, Báez’s historic debut makes it especially important to separate confirmed information from speculation. There is no confirmed indication in the information available here that the Cardinals are actively shopping him or have agreed to a trade involving him.
Given his prospect status and immediate impact in the majors, the Cardinals have strong reasons to view Báez as an important part of their future rather than simply as a trade asset.
Joshua Baez MLB Pipeline Ranking
Before his MLB promotion, Báez was ranked:
- No. 3 among Cardinals prospects
- No. 59 overall by MLB Pipeline
- No. 24 in his 2021 Draft class
His scouting grades were:
- Hit: 45
- Power: 60
- Run: 50
- Arm: 60
- Field: 50
- Overall: 55
Those grades highlight what makes him so interesting: elite-level raw power and arm strength combined with enough athleticism to contribute in multiple ways.
What Makes Joshua Baez Special?
Báez’s debut was not simply a hot game. It was the culmination of years of development.
He went from a teenager moving between the Dominican Republic and Boston to a high school star, then a second-round MLB Draft pick, a top Cardinals prospect and finally a record-setting major-league hitter.
His ability to combine tremendous raw power with speed and a strong throwing arm gives him a rare physical profile.
The emotional connection to his father adds another layer to his story.
Joshua Baez’s Future With the Cardinals
The Cardinals now have an exciting young player whose MLB career began with a record that may stand for a very long time.
The biggest challenge will be maintaining that production over a full major-league season. Pitchers will adjust, scouting reports will become more detailed and Báez will have to demonstrate that his impressive minor-league power can consistently translate against MLB pitching.
Still, his debut could hardly have been better.
Three home runs in three plate appearances, five RBIs and an 8-4 victory over the Cubs gave Báez an instant place in baseball history.
For the Cardinals, the performance offered a glimpse of what could become a significant part of their future.
Final Takeaway
Joshua Báez has quickly gone from one of the Cardinals’ top prospects to one of the most talked-about young players in Major League Baseball.
His 2021 MLB Draft selection, power-packed minor-league career, family story and historic Cardinals debut all help explain why interest in Joshua Baez stats, brother, draft, college, trade and family continues to rise.
At 23 years old, Báez has already made history. The next chapter will be about proving that his extraordinary debut was the beginning of a major-league career rather than simply one unforgettable afternoon at Wrigley Field.
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