Memphis Slugger, Joshua Báez

he Cardinal Chronicle
Minor League Player of the Day: Joshua Báez
Báez powers Memphis with three-hit night, delivers longest Redbirds homer of 2026 season.
St. Louis, MO                                                                                                               By Ray Mileur

Joshua Báez gave the Memphis Redbirds more than another strong performance at the plate Saturday night.

He delivered one of those swings that made everyone at AutoZone Park pause in awe, drawing gasps from the crowd as the ball rocketed off his bat.

Báez is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Player of the Day after going 3-for-5 with a home run, two singles, three runs scored and two RBIs in Memphis’ convincing 13-4 win over the Indianapolis Indians at AutoZone Park. In a game where the Redbirds pounded out 16 hits and every starter reached the hit column, Báez still managed to separate himself from the pack.

His biggest swing came in the sixth inning, when he launched a 454-foot solo home run to left-center field — the longest homer by a Redbird this season. The ball left his bat at 112 mph, soaring over the fence and drawing applause even from opposing fans. It was not just a box-score note; it was the sort of jaw-dropping power that illustrates why Báez is considered one of the more intriguing prospects in the Cardinals’ system.

Memphis did not rely on a single player to carry the offense Saturday. That was part of what made the win impressive. The Redbirds scored early, kept adding on and received production from every spot in the lineup. Bryan Torres belted his first home run of the year, a towering shot in the third inning. Jimmy Crooks added a three-run homer in the fifth. Ramon Mendoza chipped in three hits, including a double, and scored twice.

But Báez gets the nod because he combined production with impact.
Three hits in a Triple-A game are noteworthy. A 454-foot home run is rarer still. Combine both in a 13-run win for a first-place club, and it becomes a night worth remembering.

Báez has always possessed impressive raw tools. His power has never been in doubt. The key, as with many young hitters, is translating those tools into consistent production at the plate. Saturday night provided a snapshot of what is possible when Báez’s swing, strength and approach all come together.
That is Báez's developmental path. Nights like this do not complete the story, but they offer a reminder of why he remains one of the Cardinals’ most compelling young players to watch.

Honorable Mention: Ramon Mendoza, Memphis — three hits in the Redbirds’ 13-4 win. Jimmy Crooks, Memphis — three-run homer, ninth of the season.

Old School Take: Power gets your attention, but production earns the headline. Báez did both Saturday night. That 454-foot blast was the thunder, but the three-hit game was the substance.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports