The reaction from friends was summed up in simple one-word messages — the same disbelief I felt while watching Joshua Baez make baseball history. The first home run felt almost inevitable. The second was stunning. But the third, record-breaking blast? That was the moment when words became difficult to find. Whatever your reaction was, Baez’s historic performance delivered what is now considered the greatest offensive debut in Major League Baseball history.
Baez’s unforgettable night overshadowed home runs from Alec Burleson and Blaze Jordan, but the Cardinals still had to survive several tense moments to secure the victory in the second game of the series. Burleson has continued his impressive run at the plate, while Jordan Walker and Ivan Herrera have shown flashes of becoming major offensive contributors, though neither has fully caught fire since the All-Star break. JJ Wetherholt has been solid in the second half, but Sal Stewart’s consistent production has made the Rookie of the Year conversation much more competitive.
Those four players have occupied the top half of the Cardinals’ lineup for much of the season. Herrera previously settled into the No. 2 spot but has recently moved around the order, including time hitting cleanup while swapping positions with Walker. The group has looked like the foundation of St. Louis’ future, and Baez’s arrival could give the lineup another dangerous weapon.
Joshua Baez’s power could transform the Cardinals’ future lineup
Despite sitting above .500 and remaining in the playoff race, the Cardinals have managed to stay competitive despite a lack of home run power throughout the lineup. Walker and Burleson have both surpassed the 20-homer mark this season, but St. Louis ranks near the bottom of baseball in total home runs.
Herrera’s power numbers have declined, and while Wetherholt still has a chance to reach 20 home runs, much of the lineup has struggled to consistently create damage with the long ball.
The middle of the order has carried much of the offensive burden. The Cardinals’ No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 hitters have produced one of the largest shares of the team’s hits compared to any other club, highlighting how important those spots have been to the offense.
When Burleson or Walker have occupied the third spot in the order, the Cardinals have received elite production from that position. The players who have hit third for St. Louis this season have combined for 60 extra-base hits, the most in Major League Baseball.
However, while the top of the order has delivered, the lower half of the heart of the lineup has left room for improvement.
Baez made his historic debut while hitting fifth, a position where the Cardinals have received limited production this season. St. Louis’ No. 5 hitters rank near the bottom of the league in offensive output, with only 10 home runs coming from that spot. Half of those came from Nolan Gorman, while Lars Nootbaar contributed two before being traded. Burleson, Walker, and Jose Fermin each added one.
Looking ahead, many of those players are unlikely to consistently occupy that role, leaving Baez as a potential long-term solution capable of extending the lineup and providing protection behind the Cardinals’ top run producers.
Of course, expecting Baez to continue hitting multiple home runs every game would be unrealistic. The Cardinals may also manage his playing time carefully to preserve his rookie status and keep his plate appearances below certain thresholds. But when he is in the lineup regularly, his power gives St. Louis an element it has lacked.
The Cardinals have only had three players hit at least 30 home runs in the same season twice over the past 22 years. While it is still too early to predict that this current group will accomplish that feat, the potential exists for Walker, Burleson, and Baez to become the next trio capable of producing that kind of power.
If Wetherholt and Herrera can also develop into 20-homer threats, the pressure would be reduced on the rest of the roster as St. Louis continues building around its young core.
The remaining lineup spots would likely be filled by players at shortstop, third base, catcher, and center field, assuming Baez remains in left field and Herrera transitions into a full-time designated hitter role.
At shortstop, Masyn Winn continues to provide elite defense, even if his offensive production has not reached the level some expected. His glove remains valuable enough that the Cardinals can accept a lower offensive ceiling.
Third base remains the biggest uncertainty. Gorman has continued putting up impressive numbers in Triple-A, while Blaze Jordan, Jose Fermin, Bryan Torres, and Cesar Prieto have received opportunities after his demotion. Outside of Jordan’s recent home run, the position has been one of the weakest offensive areas for the Cardinals.
Baez’s emergence could allow St. Louis more flexibility when addressing third base. While Jesus Baez has also impressed, he is likely still at least a year away from making a major league push. Joshua Baez becoming a cornerstone bat would give the organization more time to find the right long-term answer at the hot corner.
The potential of this lineup is becoming easier to envision. Even if positions like shortstop and center field remain focused primarily on defense, adding a consistent power hitter like Baez could dramatically change the team’s offensive ceiling.
Baez could even see time in center field, although Nathan Church has settled nicely into his role and provides value if the surrounding lineup continues improving.
With Wetherholt, Winn, and Church forming a strong defensive core up the middle, adding Baez’s power could leave the Cardinals just one major piece away from having one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.
Regardless of how the remainder of the season unfolds, St. Louis has given fans a reason to stay engaged through the final stretch. Unlike previous seasons where September baseball felt meaningless, the Cardinals now have a young core that offers legitimate hope for the future.
Even if October baseball does not happen this year, the organization appears to be heading into the offseason with renewed optimism and a clearer vision of what the next era of Cardinals baseball could look like.