Can Outfielder Joshua Baez Give St. Louis Cardinals Much-Needed Power?

BusinessSportsMoneyCan Outfielder Joshua Baez Give St. Louis Cardinals Much-Needed Power?ByChuck Murr,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Chuck analyzes and writes about baseball, soccer & other sports.Follow AuthorJun 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 ImagesJoshua 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.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.Baez threw 97 mph from the pitcher’s mound in high school; his speed and power bat drew comparisons to MLB star Mike Trout. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 24 prospect entering the draft. Current Washington Nationals slugger James Wood was No. 44. The Cardinals’ top pick that year Michael McGreevy was No. 28. The right-hander, now 25, has a 14-9 career record for St. Louis.FRISCO, TX: Joshua Baez of the Springfield Cardinals slugs a home run against the Frisco RoughRiders at Riders Field on June 4, 2025. (Photo by Charisma Jones/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)Minor League Baseball via GettyMORE FOR YOUBaez’s development was slowed by left wrist surgery that limited him to 32 games in 2022. By 2025, he started to put his skills together. Overall between High-A Peo...