Baez Called Up to Make his Professional Debut

Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports

Javier Baez, the number two prospect for the Chicago Cubs, finally earned the call he had been waiting for. The Chicago Cubs called up the young stud and he will meet them on the road at Coors Field in Colorado, home to the Colorado Rockies. Baez has spent the entire year at triple-A Iowa, hitting .260 with 23 homers and 83 runs batted in. Ranked the fifth overall prospect in Minor League Baseball by Jonathon Mayo, Baez has always lived up to the high expectations thrown in front of him.

Drafted ninth overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2011 MLB Draft, Baez has moved up the ladder rather quickly. Although his main position is shortstop, Baez is expected to play second or third base, although the hot corner seems unlikely.  The Chicago Cubs, who are led by General Manager Jed Hoyer and President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein, positioned themselves to acquire many highly rated prospects, giving them the highest ranked farm system in all of Major League Baseball.

Not only does Baez have the ability to hit for power, make contact and use his spectacular discipline at the plate to get on base, his glove is also excellent. Ranked as the third best shortstop in Minor League Baseball, Baez’s versatility, agility and athleticism makes him a Major League-ready shortstop.

He’s scheduled to make his professional debut in “The Show” today against Rockies southpaw Brett Anderson, and fans of the Cubs have high expectations for the 21-year-old.

Javier Baez is the second highly-rated Cubs prospect to be called-up this season after Arismendy Alcantara was called up in early July.  MLB Pipeline player of the week Kris Bryant, prospects Addison Russell, Albert Almora, C.J. Edwards, Kyle Schwarber and Billy McKinney are also expected to be stars at the major league level.