Cardinals rookie Joshua Baez hits record three home runs in MLB debut

St. Louis Cardinals rookie Joshua Baez has become the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit three home runs in his first three at-bats during an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The 23-year-old outfielder was called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day and immediately made an unprecedented impact at Wrigley Field.

He drove the very first pitch he faced deep into the left-centre field bleachers for a two-run shot.

That 449-foot strike ranks as the third-longest home run in a player’s debut since distance tracking began in 2006, sitting only behind Aaron Judge and Jason Heyward.

A history-making arrival

The highly rated prospect then sent a full-count pitch down the left-field line in the fourth inning to restore his team’s advantage.

In the sixth, the young slugger completed his historic treble with an opposite-field blast.

All three of his monumental hits were struck against Chicago starter Matthew Boyd, who ultimately conceded seven runs across five and a third innings.

Prior to this weekend, no player had ever homered three times in their inaugural major league appearance.

Carrying minor league form to the majors

This sensational performance is not an isolated incident for the power-hitting outfielder this season.

He currently leads the entire Triple-A circuit with 34 home runs, a tally bolstered by a remarkable four-homer game in June.

Blaze Jordan and Alec Burleson also contributed solo efforts to ensure the visitors bounced back from a series-opening defeat.

Michael Conforto had temporarily tied the game for the hosts with a three-run homer in the second inning, but the Cubs could not contain St. Louis’ explosive new arrival.