Joshua Báez Makes Historic Debut with Three Home Runs Against Cubs

During a game at Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd faced St. Louis Cardinals’ rookie Joshua Báez. Making his major-league debut, Báez hit a 449-foot, two-run homer off a first-pitch fastball, putting the Cardinals in the lead, 3-0. Báez’s memorable entry didn’t stop there. In the fourth inning, he hit a 382-foot solo home run off a changeup, further extending the Cardinals’ edge.

In Báez’s third at-bat, Boyd’s slider was ineffective. The rookie smashed a 368-foot, two-run home run to right field. This exceptional performance made Báez the first player in major-league history to hit three home runs in their debut. The Cardinals claimed victory with an 8-4 win over the Cubs.

‘He hit three different pitches for home runs,’ said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. ‘He had a great game. He beat us for sure.’

Báez’s feat impressed many, occurring in a venue with a rich history. ‘It’s just unreal,’ Báez expressed post-game. Recalled from Triple-A Memphis, the 23-year-old was already notable. Báez hit 34 home runs and 90 RBIs in 103 games this season and is ranked as the 59th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Báez’s first at-bat set the tone. Boyd’s 93.4-mph fastball on the outer third of the plate was crushed, marking the first instance of a Cardinal homering on the first pitch of their initial MLB at-bat since Adam Wainwright in 2006. Báez is the 11th Cardinal to homer in their debut, the last being Lane Thomas in 2019.

Boyd reflected on his pitches post-game. ‘You can watch film, and we had a good idea. I didn’t execute, and hats off to him. Missed with the first heater, and he was ready for it.’

Despite Báez’s early home run, the Cubs rallied. Designated hitter Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer in the second inning, leveling the game. Boyd refrained from throwing a fastball to Báez in later at-bats. Still, Báez capitalized on a changeup in the fourth inning, securing a 4-3 lead for the Cardinals.

‘We tried to attack him with different pitches,’ Boyd noted. ‘It wasn’t bad, could have been better, though, and he created some damage.’

In a third encounter, Boyd’s slider was ineffective again, leading to Báez’s historic third homer. ‘Missed with the first heater, then a changeup the second at-bat. He hit a backdoor slider on the last one,’ recounted Boyd. ‘Sometimes it happens like that.’

Boyd recognized the impact of the at-bats prior to Báez’s homers. Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson made strategic plays that set up Báez’s opportunities. ‘The two walks scored and having a runner on base makes it more damage. It adds it on,’ Boyd lamented.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell decided to keep Boyd in during the sixth inning. Despite the lead slipping away, Counsell didn’t feel Boyd was out of control. ‘The first home run was maybe a mistake, the last two were good pitches,’ Counsell remarked. ‘Sometimes that happens.’

Andy Martinez is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.