{
  "id": 1303391,
  "title": "Who is Joshua Báez? Cardinals rookie's three-homer debut years in making",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/who-is-joshua-baez-cardinals-rookies-three-homer-debut-years-in-making",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-16T16:13:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/joshua-b-ez-cardinals-rookies-161336405.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Joshua Báez, a 21-year-old rookie for the St. Louis Cardinals, made an unforgettable debut in his first three major league at-bats by hitting three home runs. This remarkable performance, which came during his Class AAA debut on August 16, 2025, has established him as a standout prospect in the Cardinals' history, a rarity for a player to achieve such success in so short a span.\n\nBorn in Boston and raised in the Dominican Republic before returning to Boston, Báez was drafted by the Cardinals in the 54th overall pick of the 2023 draft, after being committed to Vanderbilt. Despite his powerful swing and outstanding athleticism, Báez's future was initially tied to college baseball. However, the Cardinals chose to take a different path, signing Báez for $2.25 million, which bought him out of his college commitment.\n\nBáez's minor league statistics paint a picture of a player on the rise. In his first full pro season in 2022, he managed four home runs in just 32 games, posting an .870 OPS. While his performance dipped slightly in 2023 and he struggled with strikeouts in 2024, he exploded in 2025, hitting 20 home runs in just 38 games in Class AA, earning him a spot in Class AAA.\n\nBáez's journey has not been without emotional moments. His father passed away three years ago, and in 2025, Báez hit a career-best four home runs in memory of his father, a performance that brought his mother to tears.\n\nThe Cardinals, aiming for near-term contention, have made moves to accommodate Báez in their outfield. With Jordan Walker's breakout season, Báez is set to take on a significant role in the corner outfield spots. Despite the eventual possibility of strikeouts, Báez's potential and impact on the team are undeniable, solidifying his position as a key player for the Cardinals in the coming years.",
  "summary": "What fueled Joshua Báez's historic Cardinals debut? His path to the majors explained, including how the team acquired him, and his time in the minors.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Joshua Báez of the Cardinals hits 3 homers in his first 3 at-bats in a historic major league debut",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/joshua-baez-of-the-cardinals-hits-3-homers-in-his-first-3-at-bats-in-1142233",
        "published": "2026-08-15T22:53:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Joshua Báez of the Cardinals hits 3 homers in his first 3 at-bats in a historic major league debut",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/joshua-baez-of-the-cardinals-hits-3-homers-in-his-first-3-at-bats-in",
        "published": "2026-08-16T13:41:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}