Ball State great Jeremy Hazelbaker enters St. Louis Cardinals record books

Lowell, Greenville, Salem, Portland, Pawtucket, Obregon, Araqua, Chattanooga, Albuquerque, Tulsa, Springfield, Memphis, Caribes, St. Louis.

It's been quite a journey for Ball State baseball legend Jeremy Hazelbaker since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by the Boston Red Sox. Seven years later the pride of Wapahani High School in Muncie, Indiana is the breakout star of the 2016 Major League Baseball season, and on Monday night he hit a new milestone.

After Matt Holliday exited Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to third inning leg cramps, Hazelbaker replaced him in left and further etched his name into St. Louis baseball history. The rookie became the first Cardinal in team history to hit a home run and a triple in a game he did not start.

After last night's 12-7 loss to Arizona, Hazelbaker is now posting a slash line of .308/.333/.731 in 53 at bats. He's slugged five home runs and has a pair of triples to his credit. He hit two homers in his first four career games, just the second Cardinal in history to accomplish this feat.

So far, not a bad return for St. Louis on that $507k salary.