Jesús Báez and Rainiel Rodriguez turned Double-A Springfield into a home-run derby on Sunday.
Rodriguez, the catcher, went 4-for-4 and left the yard twice. Báez, the infielder, matched the thunder with three homers of his own in Springfield’s 11-4 win over the Arkansas Travelers, Seattle’s Double-A affiliate. Batting second and third in the lineup, the two Cardinals prospects also went back-to-back twice during the game.
Báez’s day got even bigger because Springfield’s Saturday game was postponed and finished on Sunday. He added another homer in the ninth inning of that suspended contest, which means he technically finished with four home runs on the day.
The power surge fits right in with what both players have been doing all season. Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline’s No.
1 Cardinals prospect for 2026, is hitting .321 with a .406 on-base percentage and a .966 OPS, along with 21 homers, 72 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in 100 games. Báez, ranked No. 15 in the system by MLB Pipeline, has put together a .267 average and an .881 OPS with 34 home runs and 91 RBIs across 97 games.
Both began the year with High-A Peoria. Rodriguez spent only 28 games there before his Double-A debut in May. The 19-year-old has hit .324 with 17 homers and 51 RBIs in his first 72 games at the level.
Báez logged 54 High-A games before his move to Springfield near the end of June. Since arriving in Double-A, the 21-year-old has posted a .292 average and a .999 OPS with 20 homers and 50 RBIs in 43 games.
It’s another strong reminder of how much offensive firepower is moving through the Cardinals’ farm system.
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