What happened: Joshua Báez became the first player in MLB history to homer in each of his first three career at-bats, driving in five runs in his debut. His first homer traveled 449 feet, part of a combined 1,199 feet across the three shots.

Why it matters: The feat instantly separates Báez from every rookie debut before him and gives the Cardinals a jolt of offense from a player who had never taken a major-league at-bat. A performance of that magnitude in a first appearance raises the profile of St. Louis's outfield mix for the rest of the season.

What to watch: Attention turns to how the Cardinals deploy Báez in the lineup going forward after an opening night that set a new MLB benchmark.