Cardinals No. 3 prospect Báez slugs 473-foot grand slam
This browser does not support the video element.
These days, no one can keep Joshua Báez in the yard.
The Cardinals’ No. 3 prospect -- and No. 46 overall, per MLB Pipeline -- crushed a 473-foot grand slam in the third inning of Friday’s 10-9 walk-off win for Triple-A Memphis over Iowa at AutoZone Park.
Báez jumped all over a first-pitch fastball from right-hander Jaxon Wiggins, the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect and No. 88 overall. The ball left the bat at 108.8 mph. It sailed over the green lawn behind the center-field fence and caromed directly off the batter’s eye, ricocheting back onto the field.
It was the longest tracked home run that Báez has hit this season. In fact, there have only been two home runs hit farther in Triple-A all year.
The moonshot gave Báez 29 home runs on the year, which leads the International League and is tied for the Minor League lead.
The 23-year-old outfielder is hitting .250/.322/.578 with a .900 OPS in 83 games this season for the Redbirds. He also leads the International League with a .578 slugging percentage, 48 extra-base hits and 73 RBIs.