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.
By the numbers: Three home runs in his first three plate appearances, five RBIs, 1,199 combined feet of home runs, with the first traveling 449 feet.
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.