Can Outfielder Joshua Baez Give St. Louis Cardinals Much-Needed Power?
Key takeaways
- Sports Money Can Outfielder Joshua Baez Give St.
- A year ago, Baez was one of only two minor-league players with 20 homers and 50 steals.
- That was the type of production envisioned by the Cardinals when they selected Baez in the second round in 2021 and paid the outfielder $2.25 million to ditch his college commitment to Vanderbilt.
Sports Money Can Outfielder Joshua Baez Give St. Louis Cardinals Much-Needed Power?By Chuck Murr,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Chuck analyzes and writes about baseball, soccer & other sports.Follow Author Jun 09, 2026, 03:24pm EDTJUPITER, FL: Joshua Baez of the St. Louis Cardinals poses during the St. Louis Cardinals' photo day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Feb. 17, 2026. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty Images Joshua Baez’s 17 home runs at Triple-A Memphis are more than any St. Louis Cardinals player has hit this season. The 22-year-old prospect also has 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts and is playing fine defense. too.
A year ago, Baez was one of only two minor-league players with 20 homers and 50 steals. The other was Konnor Griffin, ranked as the top prospect in the game entering 2026 and now the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting shortstop. Griffin had 21 homers, 65 steals; Baez had 20 homers, 54 steals.