CHICAGO — Joshua Báez always believed this day would come.
It took a little longer than that.
Five years, plenty of adjustments and more than a few difficult stretches later, Báez walked into the visitors’ clubhouse at Wrigley Field on Saturday morning preparing to make his Major League debut.
Báez had just changed into his workout clothes Friday when Memphis manager Ben Johnson delivered the news. His teammates quickly piled on him in celebration.
“It was kind of like a shocking moment, just because you don’t know when it’s gonna happen,” Báez said. “To be able to do it there with the boys, it was great.”
COMPLETE CARDINALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Then came the phone calls.
Báez immediately connected with his mother, siblings, coaches and girlfriend. Approximately 30 family members were expected at Wrigley on Saturday, traveling from Boston, Orlando, Miami and the Dominican Republic.
There is one person Báez wishes could be among them.
His father, José Manuel, died three years ago. Earlier this season, Báez honored him in unforgettable fashion by hitting four home runs on the third anniversary of his death.
Now, on the biggest day of his baseball life, Báez is carrying him with him again.
“My dad, his dream was to play in the big leagues,” Báez said. “The only promise that I made to him was that I was going to be able to do that for him.
“He’s not here with us, but he’s here in spirit, and I know he’s so proud of me.”
That journey has helped shape the player the Cardinals believe is ready for this moment.
Báez hit .256 with 34 home runs, 90 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and a .901 OPS in 103 games at Triple-A this season. His home run total leads Triple-A and is tied for second most in the Minors.
But when manager Oliver Marmol talks about Báez, the production is almost secondary.
“The performance speaks for itself,” Marmol said. “But there are the things I’m more curious about — how consistent are they, as far as how they come in, how they prepare, how they handle failure, how they handle success. And those are by far the most consistent and highly talked-about things when it comes to Báez.”
Marmol has watched plenty of young players arrive in the Majors over the past several seasons. Báez, he said, carries a little more intrigue because his road here was hardly linear.
There were struggles. Adjustments. Success followed by more struggles. Marmol views that as a strength.
“I like that path way more than the checkboxes to get here,” Marmol said. “They get to experience a little bit of what it’s going to be like up here. That is the big leagues. You’re going to go through some real downs, and he has something to point back to as far as being able to get through it.”
Báez expects another adjustment period now.
The jump from Double-A to Triple-A challenged him, but he eventually found his footing. He knows Major League pitching will present another, much steeper test.
His approach Saturday is considerably simpler than it was when he was the 18-year-old confidently predicting his arrival.
“Just play baseball,” Báez said. “Not trying to get too much into it, just really trying to learn and go day to day.”
That might be easier said than done.
Báez admitted he barely slept Friday night. He expects the nerves to arrive once the game begins. There will be 30 family members somewhere inside Wrigley Field, a Cardinals-Cubs crowd surrounding him and a Major League pitcher staring back from 60 feet, 6 inches away.
Marmol understands the magnitude of all of it.
“All this stuff is happening in 24 hours,” Marmol said. “And now he’s got to go face [Matthew] Boyd today and put the ball in play.
“Take a moment to enjoy it, too. Just be yourself.”
For Báez, that will be enough.
The 18-year-old who thought he would be here in two years is now 23, a little more seasoned and a lot more appreciative of everything required to arrive.
“It’s a roller coaster,” Báez said. “You have to go through so many things on and off the field. … I was just an 18-year-old, and I had no idea.
“But I’m 23 now, and I’m glad to be here.”