Joshua Báez, whose rapid rise through the Cardinals’ Minor League system over the past two seasons was capped by a 34-homer push in 2026, is being promoted to the big leagues for his MLB debut, per manager Oliver Marmol and various media reports.

Marmol told reporters in Chicago that Báez was being promoted to join the club before Saturday’s game against the Cubs. A Cardinals club that has struggled mightily since the break for the MLB All-Star Game and had just three hits in Friday’s 3-0 loss to the Cubs could use the injection of power and promise that the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Báez possesses.

The timing of the move makes sense as the Cardinals will look to keep Báez’s service time in the big leagues to fewer than 45 days and his plate appearances to fewer than 130 to preserve his rookie status. If Báez wins the National League’s Rookie of the Year award in 2027, the Cardinals would receive significant draft compensation as a bonus.

Báez, 23, was in High-A Peoria as recently as the 2025 season before beginning to show the kind of enormous potential the Cardinals thought he had when they made him a second-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. This season, Báez led the Minor Leagues with 34 homers and 90 RBI and his .573 slugging percentage ranks second in all of Triple-A. He also swiped 21 bases in 24 tries and hammered out 22 doubles and three triples to go with his 34 long balls – many of them traveling more than 450 feet.

Five years ago, this was our first introduction to Joshua Baez. He had some big baseball dreams. It took a bit of time and some hard work in the minors, but now he's Wrigley bound to join the #STLCards in the show https://t.co/CZUzqlHp7c

— Corey Miller (@corey_miller5) August 14, 2026

The promotion also comes as Báez has made huge strides in his all-around game of late. He has slashed .345/.415/.707/1.122 over his last 15 games, while lowering his strikeout rate (24.6 percent) and improving his walk rate (11 percent).

The outfielder’s enormous progress in 2026 allowed him to climb to the No. 3-ranked prospect in the Cards system and No. 59 overall in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Baez is ranked No. 2 among Cardinals prospects by Baseball America.

Báez features power, speed and swing and miss

The free-swinging Báez does come with some risk to the Cardinals. He struck out 136 times and walked only 37 times in 103 games with Triple-A Memphis this season. His 33.2 percent strikeout rate dwarfed his 9 percent walk rate.

Because of his speed and strong throwing arm, Báez can play all three outfield positions, and he did so in his 103 games in Memphis this season. He split his time between center field (44 games), right field (32 games), left field (21 games) and designated hitter (eight games). He committed five errors but also racked up six assists from the outfield.

While right field Jordan Walker emerged as an All-Star and the Home Run Derby champion, the Cardinals have struggled to find much steady offensive production from their center field and left field positions. Their center fielders have combined to hit just .217 with a .596 OPS, while their left fielders haven’t fared much better with a .239 average and a .681 OPS.

Despite his obvious physical gifts, Báez struggled mightily over his first four years in professional baseball. He began the 2025 season at High-A Peoria before finally starting to show his enormous potential, which earned him a promotion to Double-A Springfield. In 117 games in 2025, Báez slashed .287/.384/.500/.884 with 23 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs and 79 RBI. He also swiped 54 bases in 63 tries but struck out 103 times.

Here’s Joshua Baez hitting four home runs. In one game. #stlcardspic.twitter.com/TWUL6l82MF

— Tom Ackerman (@Ackerman1120) August 14, 2026

Baez’s growth and emerging power showed early in the season as he crushed six homers in April and 10 in May and June to vault him into the MiLB lead in long balls. Báez hit multiple home runs four times this season, with a career-best performance coming on June 16 against Nashville. That night, he crushed four homers and drove in seven runs in Memphis’ victory.